Japan's Iwate Forest Fire Expands, Burned Area Second Only to 2025
A massive forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, has burned 1,176 hectares, marking the second-largest in Japan since 1989. Over 2,500 residents have been ordered to evacuate as the SDF and multi-prefecture teams battle the blaze.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 18:48
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 19:02 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 21:49 (2h 47m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA, Tokyo, 24th) The forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, entered its third day today, with fire departments and the Self-Defense Forces continuing their firefighting efforts. The town office stated that as of 6:00 a.m. today, the burned area had expanded to approximately 1,176 hectares. Eight buildings are known to have been affected, but no casualties have been reported so far.
According to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and Kyodo News, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported that the forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, last year burned an area of about 3,370 hectares. This current fire is the second-largest forest fire in Japan since 1989, second only to last year's fire in Ofunato City.
The Otsuchi Town Office reported that as of this morning, the burned area in the Kirikiri district and its surroundings was about 948 hectares, while the Kozuchi district saw about 228 hectares burned, bringing the total to approximately 1,176 hectares.
The town office has issued evacuation orders to 2,588 people across 1,229 households in the area and has opened four evacuation shelters.
The Iwate Prefectural Government and the Self-Defense Forces began using helicopters for aerial firefighting this morning. The neighboring governments of Miyagi and Akita prefectures have also dispatched disaster prevention helicopters to assist.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced today that it has requested emergency fire response teams from five regions: Hokkaido, Yamagata, Fukushima, Tochigi, and Niigata prefectures. Teams from eight regions have been deployed for firefighting, totaling 442 personnel.
Hideo Kashiwazaki, a 61-year-old resident of the Akahama district in Otsuchi Town who had received an evacuation order, sighed as he and his neighbors looked at the smoking mountains: "The fire is closing in on our homes. Even if it is put out, it will just reignite."
As firefighting operations are still ongoing, it remains unclear when the fire will be brought under control. The Otsuchi Town Office is urging local residents to remain vigilant. (Translated by Yang Wei-jing) 1150424
(CNA, Tokyo, 24th) The forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, entered its third day today, with fire departments and the Self-Defense Forces continuing their firefighting efforts. The town office stated that as of 6:00 a.m. today, the burned area had expanded to approximately 1,176 hectares. Eight buildings are known to have been affected, but no casualties have been reported so far.
According to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and Kyodo News, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported that the forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, last year burned an area of about 3,370 hectares. This current fire is the second-largest forest fire in Japan since 1989, second only to last year's fire in Ofunato City.
The Otsuchi Town Office reported that as of this morning, the burned area in the Kirikiri district and its surroundings was about 948 hectares, while the Kozuchi district saw about 228 hectares burned, bringing the total to approximately 1,176 hectares.
The town office has issued evacuation orders to 2,588 people across 1,229 households in the area and has opened four evacuation shelters.
The Iwate Prefectural Government and the Self-Defense Forces began using helicopters for aerial firefighting this morning. The neighboring governments of Miyagi and Akita prefectures have also dispatched disaster prevention helicopters to assist.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced today that it has requested emergency fire response teams from five regions: Hokkaido, Yamagata, Fukushima, Tochigi, and Niigata prefectures. Teams from eight regions have been deployed for firefighting, totaling 442 personnel.
Hideo Kashiwazaki, a 61-year-old resident of the Akahama district in Otsuchi Town who had received an evacuation order, sighed as he and his neighbors looked at the smoking mountains: "The fire is closing in on our homes. Even if it is put out, it will just reignite."
As firefighting operations are still ongoing, it remains unclear when the fire will be brought under control. The Otsuchi Town Office is urging local residents to remain vigilant. (Translated by Yang Wei-jing) 1150424