Forest fires threaten homes, still spreading in Iwate
Forest fires threaten homes, still spreading in Iwate
09 May 2017
published by http://www.asahi.com
Japan – KAMAISHI, Iwate Prefecture–The Self-Defense Forces were using helicopters to help fight forest fires that were threatening residential areas here on May 9.
Many residents have been forced to evacuate, but there have been no reports of deaths or injuries.
A series of forest fires broke out in Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan on May 8, fanned by strong winds and dry conditions.
They have mostly been extinguished.
The Iwate prefectural government said that a fire was burning across about 400 hectares as of 9:30 a.m. on May 9, and it was continuing to spread at 11 a.m.
It had reached within about 300 to 400 meters of homes in Kamaishi, forcing evacuation orders to be issued for 348 people.
As for the other fires, the blaze in Kurihara, a city in Miyagi Prefecture, was put out around 8:10 p.m. on May 8, about eight hours after it broke out. The city issued an evacuation order to 392 people.
Eleven buildings including homes were destroyed by the blaze, according to the citys fire department. The prefectural police is investigating the origin of the fire in Kurihara after discovering traces of a bonfire in the ruins.
The forest fire in Aizubange in Fukushima Prefecture was brought under control around 9:10 a.m. on May 9 after five SDF and prefectural helicopters battled the blaze.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said that low atmospheric pressure in the Tohoku region caused strong westerly winds. The agency issued a storm warning for the eastern part of Miyagi Prefecture and other areas. Dry winds moved into the area, resulting in widespread dry conditions in the region. Humidity was only 30 percent in the Pacific coast of the region.
