The coastal city of Ofunato in northern Japan is battling the worst wildfire the country has seen in half a century. According to the Japan Times, not since the last three decades has Japan witnessed such a massive blaze.
So far, the fire has claimed one life. Disaster management officials reported that the wildfire has spread across 5,200 acres in Ofunato, with more than 2,000 personnel deployed to combat the flames.
March is typically a dry month in Ofunato. Last month, the area received only 2.5 millimeters of rain—the lowest in 20 years—compared to an average of 41 millimeters in February.
On Tuesday, firefighters evacuated nearly 4,000 local residents as white smoke billowed from a forested area near the city in Iwate Prefecture.
The wildfire has already consumed about 2,600 hectares as of Tuesday morning, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Rescue workers described it as the largest wildfire in Japan since 1975, with at least 80 buildings damaged.
Experts attribute the extreme weather to climate change, which led to Japan experiencing its hottest summer on record last year.