General News

Forest Fire in Japan’s Iwate Burns 1,176 Hectares; Burn Areas Increased by Five Times Previous Day

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:10 JST, April 24, 2026

OTSUCHI, Iwate — Two forest fires have continued to burn for a third day on Friday in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, with about 1,176 hectares burned as of 6 a.m. on the day, according to town officials. The burned areas have expanded to more than five times the previous day’s figure.

It was newly confirmed that a warehouse was damaged, and the total number of completely burned down structures, including homes, has reached eight.

You may also like to read

2 Mountain Fires Burn 200 Hectares in Japan’s Iwate Pref., SDF Helicopters Brought In for Firefighting Wildfire Destroys 5 Structures in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture, Continues Spreading through Woodland

On the ground, firefighters worked through the night spraying water, while helicopters from the prefectural government and the Self-Defense Forces began aerial water drops in the morning. As of 6 a.m., 325 people from 127 households were sheltering at four evacuation centers in the town.

According to town officials, 228 hectares have burned in the Kozuchi district, and 948 hectares have burned in the Kirikiri district, significantly expanding the areas affected by the fire. Evacuation orders have been issued for 2,588 people from 1,229 households, representing one-quarter of the town’s population.

Starting Friday, Miyagi Prefecture’s emergency fire assistance team joined the local fire department, and assistance teams from Aomori, Akita and Yamagata prefectures were also scheduled to arrive. In addition to six Self-Defense Force helicopters, disaster prevention helicopters from Iwate, Miyagi and Akita prefectures were also to conduct aerial water drops.

“The situation is severe. There is even more billowing smoke than yesterday. We will continue to coordinate with the fire department to ensure safety,” Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano said at a press conference on Friday morning.

A water shortage occurred in the Kirikiri district, and residents were being urged to conserve water.

At the Shiroyama Park gymnasium, a designated evacuation center located on high ground behind Otsuchi’s town hall, evacuees watched the smoke rising from the mountains in the early morning of Friday.