Over 1000 firefighters are engaged in combat against two wildfires in northern Japan for the fourth consecutive day, as the fires near residential areas, leading to the evacuation of more than 3000 people.
The total affected land is now logged as the third largest in Japan's history, as forest fires have become more severe in recent years.
The initial fire ignited on Wednesday in a mountainous region, followed by a second blaze nearby that endangered residential zones in Otsuchi, located in Iwate Prefecture.
A fire department spokesperson informed the press that the rugged landscape, dry conditions, and wind are obstructing efforts to control the flames.
By Saturday, the wildfires had consumed around 730 hectares, resulting in evacuation mandates for 1541 households and 3233 individuals—approximately a third of the town's population.
The area bears the scars of one of Japan's most devastating calamities, the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, during which the town lost nearly ten percent of its residents.
Even when the disaster struck in 2011, this locality remained untouched by flames. We faced a tsunami, but there was no fire here, stated 76-year-old Taeko Kajiki, a former nurse who has evacuated since Friday.
She recounted staying awake all night, witnessing the flames' ominous glow, and had packed her bank information, medical cards, and her pet turtle, which she has cared for since 2010.
Firefighters on the ground were assisted by helicopters from different prefectures and Japan's Self Defense Forces, which conducted aerial water drops in an effort to curb the wildfires' spread.
With the land so parched, fires keep breaking out. After putting one out, we rush to handle another, repeating the process continuously, said Masashi Kikuchi, a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter who relocated to higher ground after losing his home in the 2011 tsunami.
So far, eight structures, including a residential home, have been impacted or destroyed, although authorities report no injuries or deaths.
I cannot allow people to lose their homes again after enduring such a loss to the tsunami, remarked Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano to the media. He mentioned that the town would request assistance from other entities and offer services like hot baths to alleviate residents' stress.
Although Japan has seen fewer wildfires compared to many other regions worldwide, climate change has raised their occurrence, particularly during the early spring, which tends to be hot and dry before the onset of the humid rainy season, coupled with winds capable of intensifying the flames.
The Japan Meteorological Agency indicated that there was no rain predicted for the area in the following week.
Official statistics reveal that the total area ablaze around Otsuchi ranks second only to the significant forest fire in Ofunato in 2025, which destroyed about 3370 hectares, and the Kushiro fire in 1992, which consumed 1030 hectares.
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