Japan is currently battling its largest wildfire in over 30 years, with over 1,000 residents evacuated as flames engulf approximately 1,200 hectares in Ofunato, Iwate. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reports that about 1,700 firefighters are mobilized to combat the blaze, which has resulted in one fatality and damaged more than 80 buildings. The cause of the fire remains unknown amidst a backdrop of 1,300 wildfires recorded in 2023, mostly occurring during dry and windy periods, though overall wildfire incidents have decreased since the 1970s.
The flames are estimated to have spread over about 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in the forest of Ofunato in the northern region of Iwate since a fire broke out on Wednesday.
Aerial footage from the public broadcaster NHK showed white smoke billowing up and covering an entire mountain.
The cause of the blaze remained unknown, with reports indicating one person burnt and over 1,000 residents evacuated due to damage.
The number of wildfires has declined since the peak in the 1970s, with about 1,300 reported across Japan so far in 2023.
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