Wildfire in Iwate Prefecture, Japan Burns for Sixth Day... Largest Area Burned in 30 Years

One Dead and 84 Buildings Damaged by Wildfire
Evacuation Order Issued for 1,896 Households and 4,596 People
Area Burned by Morning of the 4th Equals Four Times the Size of Yeouido

A large wildfire that broke out on the 26th of last month in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, in the northeastern part of Honshu, Japan, has not been extinguished as of the morning of the 4th, causing extensive damage. The wildfire remained unextinguished on the sixth day since its outbreak, expanding the burned area to 2,100 hectares (ha; 1 ha equals 10,000 square meters). On the 3rd (local time), local media such as NHK and Kyodo News reported that 2,100 ha had been destroyed by the wildfire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Honshu, Japan, describing it as the "largest scale since the Heisei era."

A large wildfire that broke out on the 26th of last month in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, located in the northeastern part of Honshu, Japan, has not been extinguished as of the morning of the 4th, causing extensive damage. The wildfire remained unextinguished on the sixth day since its outbreak, expanding the burned area to 2,100 hectares (1 hectare equals 10,000 square meters). AP·Yonhap News

The Heisei era refers to the reign period of former Emperor Akihito, from January 8, 1989, to April 30, 2019. The largest fire damage during this period was the 1992 wildfire in Kushiro City, Hokkaido, which destroyed 1,030 ha. According to statistics from the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the average annual area burned by wildfires nationwide over the past five years since 2018 is 657 ha.

So far, one person has died due to this wildfire, and 84 buildings have been damaged. Some sections of the Sanriku Railway passing through the surrounding area have suspended operations. Ofunato City has ordered evacuation for 1,896 households comprising 4,596 people. Approximately 11% of the city’s population, 3,661 people, are living in evacuation, with some residents reportedly living in their cars.

Unprecedented Large Wildfire Attributed to Climate Change

Local firefighting authorities, supported by Self-Defense Force helicopters and firefighting personnel from nearby municipalities, have been working to extinguish the fire, but strong winds and dry weather have made it difficult to control. NHK reported that firefighting authorities and the Self-Defense Forces deployed helicopters for firefighting efforts but faced difficulties due to dry air and strong winds. As the evacuation may be prolonged, authorities are focusing on distributing relief supplies and managing evacuation shelters. Temperatures are expected to drop sharply from this day, making the management of evacuees’ health a key priority. A dry weather advisory has also been issued locally.

The background of the unusual large-scale wildfire was attributed to climate change as well as the regional characteristics of Iwate Prefecture. According to the Mainichi Shimbun, Iwate Prefecture is known as the prefecture with the largest forest area in Honshu, with a wide area and a forest ratio of 77%. EPA·Yonhap News

The background of this unprecedented large wildfire includes climate change as well as the regional characteristics of Iwate Prefecture. Iwate Prefecture is known for its large area and the highest forest coverage in Honshu at 77%. In May 2017, a large wildfire occurred in Kamaishi City in this region, destroying 413 ha. The Mainichi Shimbun also reported, "There is an analysis that the decrease in agricultural and forestry workers and aging population have led to inadequate forest management, increasing fallen leaves and creating an environment where fires can easily spread."

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun explained, "Wildfires in Japan have been on a decline since peaking in the 1970s as artificial forests planted post-war have grown," but added, "This winter, the air on the Pacific side remains dry, maintaining weather conditions conducive to wildfires." Meanwhile, the schedule for examinees, including the prefectural high school entrance exams originally planned for the 5th, has been disrupted. The prefecture plans to hold additional exams for those affected by the fire in the future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.