A devastating forest fire in Ofunato, a northeastern coastal city in Japan, has destroyed dozens of homes and forced the evacuation of over 1,200 residents, authorities said.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that the blaze, which began on Wednesday, has burned approximately 2,100 hectares (5,190 acres) of forest land. At least 84 homes have been damaged, and more than 2,000 troops and firefighters have been deployed nationwide to contain the spread.
“We’re still assessing the full extent of the damage, but this is the largest wildfire since the 1992 Kushiro blaze in Hokkaido,” an agency spokesperson told The Japan Times.
Authorities discovered a man dead on a road last Thursday and are investigating whether his death was linked to the fire.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the northeastern region, including Ofunato, has experienced its driest winter since 1946, raising concerns about fire risks. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
