Biggest Wildfire In Japan: Over Thousands Of People Already Evacuated!

Biggest Wildfire In Japan: Over Thousands Of People Evacuated

Japan isstrugglingtocontainitslargestwildfire in decades, withofficialswarning that theOfunatofireon thenation's northeast coastwilllikelyspreadeven more. The fire has already ravaged communities,  destroyingdozens of homes anddisplacingthousands of residents.

UptoMonday, thefirehadburnedthroughabout2,100 hectares of land, destroying or damaging 84 houses.Morethan1,200 residentshadgoneintotemporary shelterslikeschool gymnasiums,andanother 2,000hadgonetofriendsorfamilymembers'homesforrefuge.

Onehasreportedlydiedinthe fire, with authoritiesfindinga body on a road in Ofunato late last week.

ThatisJapan'sbiggestwildfire since 1975 when 2,700 hectaresofland were consumed by firein Kushiro in Hokkaido.

Experts believe that various factors have led to the rapid spread of the wildfire:

Unusually Dry Winter:Northeast Japan has experienced its driest winter since records began in 1946. Ofunato recorded only 2.5mm of rainfall in February, compared to an average of 41mm in previous years.

Since Friday, “there has been no rain — or very little, if any” in Ofunato, a local weather agency official said, adding that it may rain or snow on Wednesday, The Japan Times reported.

Strong Winds:High winds have helped the fire spread quickly across the mountainous and heavily forested region.

Highly Flammable Vegetation:Many of the trees in the area, particularly conifers, are extremely flammable, contributing to the wildfire’s rapid expansion.

Steep Terrain:The rugged landscape makes firefighting efforts challenging, as access to affected areas is limited.

More than 2,000 firefighters and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel have been deployed to contain the blaze. Ofunato’s mayor, Kiyoshi Fuchigami, has expressed concerns about the fire’s intensity and the potential for further destruction. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to mobilise as many resources as necessary to prevent further damage and protect homes.

However, relief may be on the horizon, with the Japan Meteorological Agency forecasting snowfall starting early Wednesday, followed by rain around noon. This could help dampen the flames and slow the fire’s progression.

The wildfire is the largest in Japan since the late 1980s, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Althoughthe number of wildfires in Japan hastendedtofallsince the 1970s,therewere about1,300 firesin 2023,mostofthembetween February and April—Japan's driest and windiest months.