More than 4,500 people have been forced to evacuate their homes by a massive forest fire in Japan, which broke out in the northeastern coastal city of Ofunato on February 26.
As of Tuesday, the area affected by the fire in Ofunato of Iwate Prefecture has expanded to approximately 2,900 hectares, accounting for 9 percent of the city's total area.
Local authorities have established multiple evacuation shelters as part of the fire relief efforts. As the fire continues to spread, evacuation zones are also expanding, with many residents forced to move to temporary shelters quickly.
At one of the shelters closest to the forest fire, there were about 300 evacuees, and the place was basically at full capacity, while the number of evacuees keep going up. "I live in Akasaki town, and received evacuation instructions last Thursday [February 27]. Then I came here that evening and spent the night. It's the first time I've seen such a large forest fire. It's truly difficult for those whose homes have been burned down," said an evacuee.
Ofunato City has experienced two fires since February. Data shows that the rainfall in February has been less than 10 percent of the average levels in previous years.
The coastal areas of southern Iwate Prefecture have been under a continuous dry weather alert since February 18. The ongoing dry conditions have exacerbated the spread of the fire.
"This is the largest forest fire Japan has seen in recent years, and we have never experienced such a large fire before. Although Ofunato City is making every effort to respond, the situation remains difficult to control, and the fire continues to spread, resulting in an increasing number of evacuees," a local official named Sasaki Hirohisa said.
Number of evacuees keeps rising amid raging forest fire in Japan
Number of evacuees keeps rising amid raging forest fire in Japan
