The fire, in a forested area of the coastal city of Ofunato, killed at least one person and prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents.

The Ofunato wildfire, in Iwate prefecture, has more than doubled in size in the past three days to become Japan ’s largest for 33 years, and as of Sunday covered about 1,800 hectares (4,500 acres).

Japan may declare ‘severe disaster’ as record wildfire burns for eighth day Substantial rain broke a 15-day dry spell bringing hope for an early end to unprecedented fires ...

A Japanese Self-Defense Force helicopter conducts firefighting operations on a wildfire site in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 4, 2025, in this photo taken by Kyodo. (Kyodo ...

OFUNATO, Iwate Prefecture—A destructive and deadly wildfire entered its sixth day here, and authorities said there is still no end in sight.

Tokyo: Firefighters were Tuesday battling Japan's worst wildfire in half a century, which has left one dead and forced the evacuation of nearly 4,000 local residents. White smoke billowed from a ...

The rapid spread of the wildfire in Ofunato was caused by both government neglect and the worsening of climate change around the world.

Japan is fighting a forest fire that has damaged dozens of homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate in a northeastern coastal city.

A massive wildfire has devastated Ofunato in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture, damaging over 80 buildings and forcing mass evacuations. Military helicopters have been deployed to combat the raging ...

Firefighters on Wednesday were still trying to put out the wildfire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, now in its second week, as snow and rain offered hope of some relief. The blaze has so far burned ...

The Ofunato wildfire, in Iwate prefecture, has more than doubled in size in the past three days to become Japan ’s largest for 33 years, and as of Sunday covered about 1,800 hectares (4,500 acres).