Over 3,000 Residents Evacuated Amid Japan Wildfires

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated in northern Japan after two fast-spreading wildfires moved dangerously close to residential areas in Iwate Prefecture, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The fires began in a mountainous area of Iwate on Wednesday afternoon, with a second blaze erupting roughly two hours later about 10 kilometers away near the town of Ōtsuchi.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that firefighting teams are continuing intensive operations both on the ground and by air, but the wildfires remain largely uncontrolled.

Officials said the flames have already burned through more than 2,900 acres (approximately 12.2 million square meters), prompting evacuation orders for 1,541 households, affecting 3,233 residents.

The Iwate fires are now considered the second-largest wildfires in Japan’s recent history, surpassed only by the 2025 Ōfunato blaze, which reportedly destroyed around 8,327 acres.

Authorities confirmed that at least seven buildings, including one residential home, have been destroyed so far. However, no casualties have been reported.

Emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely as shifting winds and dry conditions raise concerns that the fires could spread further.