Key Points
- Japan deploys 1,400 firefighters and 100 Self-Defence Force personnel to contain wildfires in the north.
- Fires have been burning for five consecutive days, affecting around 1,373 hectares.
- Evacuation orders issued for 1,541 households, impacting over 3,200 residents in Otsuchi.
- Dry weather and strong winds are accelerating the spread of the flames.
- No fatalities reported so far, with only one minor injury confirmed at an evacuation centre.
OTSUCHI, Japan: Japan has mobilised around 1,400 firefighters along with 100 personnel from the Self-Defence Forces to combat extensive wildfires sweeping through mountainous areas in the country’s north.
The blazes, which have now been burning for five consecutive days, continue to pose a serious threat to a scenic coastal town.
As of early Sunday morning, the total area affected by the fire had expanded to approximately 1,373 hectares (around 3,393 acres), marking a rise of about seven per cent compared to the previous day, according to official figures.
According to media reports, the fires are advancing towards residential zones in Otsuchi, a town located along the Pacific coastline. The community is still remembered for suffering severe devastation during Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which claimed nearly ten per cent of its population.
Authorities have issued evacuation orders covering 1,541 households, affecting roughly 3,233 residents—close to one-third of the town’s population. Emergency shelters have been set up as families are moved to safer areas.
Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano said firefighting efforts were being carried out both on the ground and from the air, with Self-Defence Forces helicopters conducting continuous water drops. However, he noted that dry conditions and persistent winds were significantly contributing to the rapid spread of the flames.
Residents have expressed deep concern over the destruction being caused. One local, 74-year-old Yoshinori Komatsu, said the impact of wildfires felt total and irreversible.
“A fire burns everything down. With a tsunami, you might still have something left afterwards,” he remarked while watching helicopters operate over the burning hills.
According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, only one minor injury has been reported so far, involving a person who fell while evacuating to a shelter.
Meteorological forecasts suggest no rainfall in the region on Sunday or Monday, though light showers may occur on Tuesday, offering possible but limited relief.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continues to monitor conditions closely. Authorities have stated that the cause of the fires remains unknown and investigations are ongoing.



