Displaying items by tag: wildfire

Japan is battling its worst wildfire in fifty years, with over four thousand residents evacuated and one confirmed dead. The blaze, which started near the northern town of Ofunato, has consumed around 2,600 hectares. It follows Japan’s hottest recorded summer, exacerbated by climate change and low rainfall. Firefighters and military helicopters are struggling to contain the flames, with no sign of control. Nearly two thousand firefighters, many from Tokyo, are on the scene. The Iwate region, previously devastated by the 2011 tsunami, now faces further hardship. Authorities continue to assess the damage, which includes at least eighty buildings. While wildfires in Japan have declined since the 1970s, the country still saw 1,300 in 2023, mostly during the months of February to April when the air dries and winds pick up.