Two wildfires have broken out in Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. The flames continue to spread and have recently reached near the city center. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of more than 2,500 residents, fearing the situation could escalate further.
On 24 Apr 2026 GMT+7, the wildfire situation in Japan worsened as the flames neared the center of Otsuchi city in Iwate Prefecture. Authorities expanded the evacuation zone, ordering over 2,500 people—about one-quarter of the local population—to urgently leave their homes.
NHK reported that the flames, rising knee-high, quickly spread through leaves and forest floor. Some firefighters resorted to using agricultural tools like hoes to control the fire due to drying water sources. The first fire started before 14:00 on Wednesday on a mountain about 8 kilometers from Otsuchi city, while the second ignited roughly 10 kilometers away on the opposite side.
Firefighters are working to contain the blaze both on the ground and from the air, deploying helicopters to drop water. However, as of 20:00 on Thursday, nearly 2,700 rai have been burned. At least seven buildings, including residences, have been damaged by fire. All residents in the high-risk areas have been evacuated.
A wildfire expert from Chiba University warned that the fire could reach the treetops, which would allow sparks to be carried far by the wind, increasing the risk of rapid and difficult-to-control wildfire expansion.
Officials have been continuously spraying water to extinguish the fire overnight and resumed helicopter water drops early Friday morning. They remain closely monitoring the fire’s potential to spread into residential areas.
Source: NHK