Nearly 1,700 firefighters deployed to combat significant wildfires in northern Japan.

Nearly 1,700 firefighters have been mobilized in northern Japan to combat exceptionally large wildfires, authorities reported on Monday. Firefighters from 14 prefectures have been deployed in an effort to control the blaze that is ravaging the Iwate region, which has already destroyed approximately 2,100 hectares of forest since Wednesday.

To support these efforts, sixteen helicopters, including those from the Japan Self-Defense Forces, have been dispatched to drop water on the flames. As of Sunday, 84 buildings had been damaged, although this number remains provisional, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The fire has also claimed one victim last week, and more than 1,200 people have been evacuated, finding refuge in shelter centers established by the municipality of Ofunato.

While the number of wildfires has decreased since the 1970s, Japan recorded around 1,300 fires in 2023, primarily between February and April, a period during which dry conditions and strong winds facilitate the spread of flames.