Japan Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate as Firefighters Battle Blazes in Northern Regions

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in northern Japan as firefighters battle two wildfires in Iwate Prefecture for a fourth consecutive day.

The fires, which began on Wednesday afternoon, have burned approximately 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of forested mountain terrain in the Otsuchi area, according to local government officials.

Evacuation orders cover 1,541 households and 3,233 individuals, representing about one-third of Otsuchi’s total population.

Over 1,000 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blazes, supported by Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel and helicopters conducting water-dumping operations.

The fires have destroyed at least eight structures, including one residence, though no casualties have been reported.

A large plume of smoke has been visible rising from the valley near Otsuchi, with residents reporting the smell of smoke up to 30 kilometers away.

Otsuchi, a coastal town previously devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that claimed nearly a tenth of its population, now faces renewed threat from the advancing flames.

Officials attribute the outbreak to seasonal dry weather and accumulated layers of dried leaves on forest floors, a recurring factor in regional wildfires.

As of Saturday morning, emergency crews continued to spray water on forest edges near residential zones while aircraft dropped water on active burn zones.