Over 3,500 residents from over 1,300 households have been evacuated
A wildfire in northeastern Japan has claimed at least one life and led to the evacuation of over 3,500 residents from more than 1,300 households. The fire, located in Iwate prefecture's Ofunato city, has grown to over 1,800 hectares (4,500 acres), making it the largest wildfire in Japan in 33 years. At least 84 homes have been damaged, and officials have dispatched nearly 1,700 firefighters and helicopters to combat the blaze. Strong winds and dry conditions have complicated efforts. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and it has occurred during Japan's driest February in over two decades.
