In the north of Japan, vast forests are burning and hundreds of firefighters are fighting the flames threatening homes. Authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 3,200 people.
In the mountainous regions of northern Japan, hundreds of firefighters are battling forest fires that have already burned about 700 hectares of land and at least eight buildings in three days. Authorities urged more than 3,200 people to evacuate their homes. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
Two extensive forest fires broke out on Wednesday in the area of the town of Ocuchi. Firefighters are currently trying to extinguish the forest near the houses that were located near the focus of one of the fires. According to AFP, smoke could be seen rising in a nearby valley, which could be felt up to 30 kilometers away.
They hope for rain
Iwate Prefecture officials said earlier that more than 1,300 firefighters and 12 helicopters would be deployed to fight the fires on Saturday. The Japanese armed forces will also mobilize their soldiers.
“Ultimately, I hope it will rain,” said one of the residents of the town of Ocuchi, which is threatened by the approaching flames, on NHK television. About a third of the city’s population was ordered to evacuate. According to meteorologists, no rain is expected for next week. The risk of fires in Japan is increased by drier winters. The fire that broke out in the city of Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture early last year was Japan’s worst in more than half a century, AFP recalled.
