Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in the forests of northern Japan as authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 3,200 residents, government officials said.
The fires have been burning for three days in mountainous areas of Japan’s Iwate region, affecting around 700 hectares (1,730 acres), according to local authorities.
A large plume of smoke, reportedly visible and detectable from about 30 kilometres away, was seen rising from a valley near the town of Otsuchi. Firefighting helicopters were deployed to drop water over the affected forest areas, while fire engines worked to contain the blaze near residential zones.
Officials said around 1,300 firefighters, including Japan Self-Defence Forces personnel and multiple helicopters, were mobilised to control the spreading fires.
At least eight buildings have been destroyed, though all residents in the affected areas have been safely evacuated.
An official in Iwate said efforts were ongoing to extinguish the fires, with updates expected later in the day. Residents expressed concern as firefighting operations continued amid difficult conditions.
Authorities noted that increasingly dry winter conditions have raised the risk of wildfires in the region. Japan has experienced severe wildfire incidents in recent years, including one in Ofunato last year that was among the worst in decades.
Experts have linked the rising frequency and intensity of wildfires to climate change, which contributes to longer and more severe dry periods.