Wildfire Battle Near Otsuchi: Japan’s Massive Firefighting Response

Japan has sent a large force of 1, 400 firefighters and 100 Self‑Defense Force members to fight blazes that have been raging for five days on the northern coast. The flames now cover 1, 373 hectares and are spreading because of dry conditions and strong winds. The fire threatens the town of Otsuchi, a place that already lost almost ten percent of its people after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. About a third of Otsuchi’s residents, or 3, 233 people in 1, 541 homes, have been ordered to leave their houses for safety.The Self‑Defense Forces are using helicopters to drop water on the flames, but the weather is making the situation worse. Otsuchi’s mayor said that wind and dry air are helping the fires grow. A 74‑year‑old resident shared his fear, saying that a wildfire can destroy everything. He compared it to the tsunami, which left some buildings standing. So far only one person has been hurt when falling at an evacuation centre. No rain is expected for the next two days, but a brief shower might come on Tuesday, according to weather reports. The cause of the fires is still being investigated.