Over a thousand individuals have been evacuated as Japan deals with its largest wildfire in more than three decades. The flames have engulfed approximately 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in the Ofunato forest since a fire broke out on Wednesday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. This surpasses the previous record of 1,030 hectares burned in Kushiro, Hokkaido in 1992. About 1,700 firefighters have been deployed from across the country. Aerial footage from NHK showcased white smoke enveloping an entire mountain. Local authorities reported finding the body of one person burned, while over a thousand nearby residents have been evacuated and over 80 buildings have been damaged. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Several other fires were also burning, including one in Yamanashi and another in Iwate.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/01/japan-battles-largest-wildfire-in-decades