Authorities in northeastern Japan announced that wildfires burning for seven days in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, are now largely under control.
According to NHK, the fires, which began on April 22, have burnt approximately 1,633 hectares of land as of early Tuesday.
More than 1,000 firefighters and personnel have been deployed in both ground and aerial operations to contain the blaze.
Rainfall recorded on Monday afternoon has helped firefighting efforts, with further rain expected later in the day, offering additional support in limiting the spread.
Japan’s disaster management minister Jiro Akama said the government plans to classify the fires in Otsuchi as a severe local disaster.
The designation would allow affected municipalities to receive financial assistance from the central government for recovery and reconstruction efforts.
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