In the western regions of Japan, a series of wildfires have erupted, causing injuries to at least two individuals, prompting numerous resident evacuations, and inflicting damage on several homes. Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters continue to tackle the expanding fires in the hilly areas.
The fires began on Sunday in the towns of Okayama, Imabari, and Aso, swiftly engulfing hundreds of hectares.
In the city of Okayama, six homes suffered damage following a wildfire that ignited on Mount Kaigara, consuming 250 hectares (approximately 600 acres) of forest. In Imabari, located in Ehime prefecture on Shikoku Island, a firefighter sustained minor injuries while combating the flames.
Despite the efforts of firefighters and defense helicopters deploying water, the blazes in these prefectures persisted into Monday afternoon.
Experts suggest that dry climatic conditions and an abundance of dried, fallen leaves on the forest floor are likely contributors to the wildfires in Okayama and Imabari.
In the mountainous village of Aso in Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu Island’s southern sector, a smaller fire emerged early Sunday but was successfully extinguished by early Monday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. An individual sustained a minor injury, and local reports indicate the fire sparked when residents were burning trash.
This series of wildfires follows recent, significant fires in the northern city of Ofunato, which resulted in one fatality and the destruction of more than 200 houses and structures, covering an expanse of 2,900 hectares (around 7,170 acres) and affecting approximately one-tenth of the city’s land area.