Over 2,500 people evacuated, 200ha burnt as wildfire in north-east Japan spreads
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The local weather observatory had warned of dry air and strong winds in Otsuchi.
PHOTO: KYODO NEWS
A wildfire in north-eastern Japan continued to spread on April 23 and has now burned over 200ha, with the Self-Defense Forces joining the firefighting effort, local authorities said.
Since breaking out on April 22 in a mountainous area of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, the fire has destroyed seven buildings, they said.
Helicopters of the Iwate government and the SDF were mobilised and personnel from fire departments across the prefecture were brought in.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency urged neighboring Miyagi Prefecture to dispatch its emergency fire response team to join the fight against the blaze, which is raging at multiple locations.
All elementary, junior high and high schools in Otsuchi were closed on April 23.
As of the afternoon of April 23, the town had issued evacuation orders to 2,588 people from 1,229 households.
“The situation is changing by the minute,” Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano told reporters.
He said he will keep residents informed appropriately in light of both the fire and a special weeklong quake alert through April 20 covering Iwate and six other prefectures following a 7.7-magnitude temblor off Iwate earlier in the week. KYODO NEWS
