Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 11:45am on 01 Mar 2025,Saturday Weather & Environment
Japan is battling its largest wildfire in over three decades, with flames engulfing approximately 1,200 hectares in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, since Wednesday. The inferno has tragically claimed one life and led to the evacuation of over 1,000 residents, with more than 80 structures damaged. Around 1,700 firefighters nationwide are combating the blaze, supported by aerial efforts. The fire's magnitude surpasses the 1992 Kushiro wildfire in Hokkaido, which burned 1,030 hectares. Ofunato has experienced a mere 2.5 millimeters of rainfall this month, significantly below the February record low of 4.4 millimeters set in 1967. This dry spell, coupled with last year's record-high temperatures, underscores the escalating challenges posed by climate change.
