Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate from the northern Japan city of Ofunato of Japan as the country struggles with its largest wildfire in more than 30 years.
Officials informed that nearly 2,000 people fled the areas to stay with friends or relatives, while more than 1,200 were evacuated to shelters.
The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday in the forests around Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, continues to burn out of control and has already scorched an estimated 1,800 hectares (4,450 acres), making it the country’s most severe wildfire since 1992.
Officials confirmed that at least one person has died, with local police discovering a burned body in the affected area. More than 80 buildings have been damaged, and around 1,700 firefighters have been deployed from across Japan in an effort to contain the flames.
“We’re still examining the size of the affected area, but it is the biggest since the 1992 wildfire” in Kushiro, Hokkaido, which had burned 1,030 hectares, a spokesperson from the fire and disaster management agency told news agency AFP.
Aerial footage from NHK showed thick columns of white smoke engulfing the mountains, as military helicopters worked to douse the flames from above.
Evacuations have intensified, with around 2,000 residents seeking refuge with friends and relatives, while more than 1,200 have taken shelter in emergency facilities.
The cause of the wildfire remains unknown. As per The Guardian, Japan faced almost 1,300 wildfires in 2023, mostly in the February to April period when air dries out and winds pick up.
Authorities are continuing efforts to bring the blaze under control, warning residents to remain alert as high winds threaten to fan the flames further.