Overview
- Two blazes near the town of Otsuchi, which began Wednesday about 10 kilometers apart, led by Saturday morning to evacuation orders for 1,541 households covering 3,233 people.
- More than 1,200 firefighters are on the lines with Japan Self-Defense Forces helicopters and crews from other prefectures conducting water drops and ground attacks in rugged terrain.
- Local officials say the fires have scorched about 700 to 730 hectares, placing the event among Japan’s largest recent wildfires behind Ofunato in 2025 and Kushiro in 1992.
- At least eight buildings have been destroyed near threatened neighborhoods, and authorities report no injuries or deaths.
- Forecasts call for no rain next week, and a special quake alert after Monday’s offshore magnitude 7.7 earthquake is adding operational risk for evacuees and crews.