Worker Dead Grass Burning Event in Japan

A worker has died after being engulfed in flames during a controlled grass burning event at Akiyoshidai in Japan, authorities confirmed Saturday.

The incident occurred at Akiyoshidai park in Yamaguchi Prefecture, home to Japan’s largest karst limestone plateau. The annual field burning began at approximately 10 a.m., with local residents and city officials igniting dry grass across multiple sections of the plateau using gas burners. Firefighters were deployed on site to supervise the operation.

Roughly 20 minutes after the blaze began, emergency services were alerted that a man had been overtaken by flames. He was transported to a hospital suffering from severe burns across his body and was later pronounced dead.

Officials from the city of Mine also reported that a volunteer firefighter assigned to contain the fire’s spread remains unaccounted for.

Approximately 4,000 people were present at the scenic plateau during the event, which is known for its distinctive white limestone formations and rolling grass-covered hills. The traditional burning ceremony is conducted annually to preserve the ecosystem, prevent uncontrolled wildfires and prepare the landscape for the coming year.

The fatal accident comes despite heightened safety measures introduced after a similar incident in 2017, when a man died from burn injuries during the same event.

Authorities have not yet released further details as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the deadly blaze at one of Japan’s most iconic natural landmarks.