In a significant development, Japanese authorities have finally brought under control the country’s worst wildfire in over 50 years, after a nearly two-week battle that has left one person dead, thousands displaced, and widespread destruction in its wake. The raging inferno, which began on February 26, had been burning across the rural, mountainous areas of Ofunato, a city in northern Japan, and had already claimed one life, destroyed or damaged at least 210 homes, and forced the evacuation of over 4,200 residents.
According to the city’s mayor, Kiyoshi Fushikami, who made the announcement on Sunday, March 9, the fire is now no longer a threat to spread, following an aerial survey. “We have assessed that the fire no longer poses a risk of spreading further, and I am pleased to declare that it is now under control,” Fushikami stated during a press conference. The fire had ravaged an area of over 2,900 hectares, roughly half the size of Manhattan, making it the largest wildfire Japan has faced in more than five decades. This surpassed the previous record set by a wildfire on the island of Hokkaido in 1975, which burned approximately 2,700 hectares.
Notably, Japan had experienced its hottest summer on record in 2024 and is currently grappling with a record-breaking drought. Ofunato, in particular, had received a mere 2.5 mm of rainfall in February, a stark contrast to the average of 41 mm. However, the rain that fell in the preceding week played a significant role in aiding the efforts of firefighters to contain the blaze.
This development comes as a welcome relief to the affected communities and the nation as a whole, as the residents of Ofunato can now begin the process of rebuilding and recovery. The international community will be watching closely as Japan works to prevent such disasters in the future, particularly in the face of climate change and increasing extreme weather events.
Source: cna