Japan deploys 1,400 firefighters to battle wildfires threatening Otsuchi homes

12 articles · Updated · Reuters · Apr 26

Authorities expanded evacuation orders to 1,558 households, covering 3,257 residents, as fires burned 1,373 hectares in Otsuchi and two new blazes broke out in Kitakata and Nagaoka.
Dry, windy weather is fueling the fires, with Self-Defense Force helicopters assisting and some residents using hoses to protect their homes. Only one minor injury has been reported so far.
Rain is forecast for parts of Iwate Prefecture, potentially aiding containment efforts. The cause of the Otsuchi fires remains under investigation, amid concerns about increasing wildfire frequency due to climate change.

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