Blazing Threat: Japanese Towns on Fire Alert

Two forest fires are advancing towards residential areas in a northern Japanese town, escalating concern and resulting in expanded evacuation orders affecting more than 3,000 residents. The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the Iwate Prefecture, succeeded by another fire two hours later near the town of Otsuchi, according to media reports.

The Fire Department, tackling the flames from both the ground and the air, has yet to contain the wildfire, NHK reported. The conflagrations have scorched more than 1,176 hectares, forcing evacuation orders for 1,541 households and affecting 3,233 people in total.

This incident marks Japan's second-largest wildfire, trailing behind the Ofunato fire of 2025, which consumed approximately 3,370 hectares, TBS News stated. Seven buildings have been burned, one of which was residential, but no casualties have been reported, as cited by NHK. Additionally, NHK reported that an evacuation shelter was closed on Friday morning as the fire edged closer.

(With inputs from agencies.)