More than 1,800 people in northern Japan have been ordered to evacuate their homes after forest fires broke out on Wednesday (22).
Residents of 700 homes in Otsuchi, Japan, were told to evacuate their homes after fires that consumed more than 150 hectares of forest and rural areas, said Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara in the early hours of Thursday (23).
There have been no reports of fatalities this year so far, Kihara said.
According to the Ministry and Defense e Strengths of Japan’s self-defense authorities are implementing activities to combat fire in the region, mainly by air using helicopters.
In a publication in X, the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, took a position on the forest fire in Iwate.
“I extend my sincerest condolences to the people who are evacuated and the residents of the area who are living with anxiety. I also express my gratitude to the tireless efforts of local authorities, fire department employees, volunteer firefighters and everyone involved in the region.”
Forest fires are occurring in two locations in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture.
First of all, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to those who have been evacuated and to the surrounding residents who are living in fear.
We would like to express our gratitude to the local government staff, fire department staff, fire brigade, and other local residents for their tireless support. …— Sanae Takaichi (@takaichi_sanae)
According to FDMA (Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency), other forest fires are occurring in dry regions, including .
Last year, , burning almost 3,000 hectares of land in Ofunato and causing the evacuation of more than 4,000 people. A man believed to have started the fires accidentally died in last year’s blaze.
