Japanese firefighters are battling a massive wildfire that has been raging for over a week near Ofunato in Iwate prefecture, becoming the largest blaze the country has seen since 1975. The fire has already consumed an estimated 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres) – an area nearly half the size of Manhattan – and continues to spread, Bloomberg reports, citing the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Residents have been ordered to evacuate as more than 2,000 firefighters, supported by helicopters and hoses, struggle to contain the flames threatening urban centers. Difficult mountainous terrain is hindering access for fire trucks, according to local broadcaster NHK. Tragically, one person has died as a result of the fire, and Iwate’s governor has requested assistance from neighboring prefectures.
While wildfires are increasingly common in drier regions globally, they are relatively rare in Japan, a nation known for its humid climate. However, experts suggest that unseasonably hot and dry weather conditions, potentially exacerbated by climate change, are making the country’s forests more vulnerable to such blazes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported below-average precipitation levels in Ofunato and other coastal areas of northeastern Japan throughout February. Ofunato received a mere 20 millimeters of rain in January (less than half the 30-year average of 51.3 mm) and a minuscule 2.5 mm in February, just 6% of the long-term average. A dry weather warning has been in effect for the city since February 18.
The current blaze in Iwate is not an isolated incident. Other wildfires have broken out across Japan in recent weeks, including fires in Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures, which authorities have since brought under control.
Hope for relief is on the horizon, as the nation’s meteorological agency forecasts potential snow or rainfall in the Iwate region on Wednesday.
