Japan is facing its worst wildfire in over 30 years, forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate. According to reports, the fire has already burned 1,200 hectares of forest in Ofunato, Iwate. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed that the blaze started on Wednesday. Since then, firefighters have been working tirelessly to contain it.
A spokesperson from the agency stated, “We’re still examining the size of the affected area, but it is the biggest since the 1992 wildfire [in Kushiro, Hokkaido].” Previously, the last major wildfire in Japan burned 1,030 hectares. As a result, authorities quickly deployed 1,700 firefighters from across the country to tackle the flames.
One Person Dies as Cause Remains Unknown
Meanwhile, local police discovered a burned body in the affected area, NHK reported. Additionally, officials evacuated 1,000 residents and confirmed that more than 80 buildings had been damaged by Friday. Although firefighters are working hard to control the situation, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown.
Other Wildfires Spark Across Japan
At the same time, two more wildfires broke out on Saturday—one in Yamanashi and another elsewhere in Iwate. Every year, Japan records around 1,300 wildfires, mostly between February and April. Since the air dries out and the wind strengthens during this period, the risk of wildfires increases significantly. However, government data indicates that the number of wildfires has declined since their peak in the 1970s.
Rising Temperatures and Drought Increase Fire Risk
Furthermore, Ofunato recorded only 2.5mm (0.1 inches) of rain in February, far below the previous record low of 4.4mm in 1967. Last year, Japan experienced its hottest temperatures on record. Consequently, rising greenhouse gas emissions continue to fuel the climate crisis, making extreme weather events more frequent and severe.