Emergency crews battle large forest fire in Japan's Iwate prefecture

For the past week, emergency crews have been battling a massive forest fire in the town of Otsuchi, located in Japan's Iwate Prefecture.

Starting on April 22, 2026, the blaze consumed roughly 1,633 hectares of land.

A dedicated force of 1,400 personnel, including the Japan Self-Defense Forces, utilized 14 aircraft to manage the flames.

Thanks to helpful rainfall on April 27, the fire is now largely under control.

At the height of the emergency, over 3,000 residents were evacuated, though these orders are now being lifted.

Experts suggest that increasingly dry winters in northern Japan, likely influenced by climate change, are making these mountainous regions more vulnerable to fire.

This marks the second year in a row that Iwate has faced such a catastrophe, raising urgent questions about regional environmental safety.