Rain Helps Contain Japan’s Worst Wildfire in Over 50 Years

Rain Helps Contain Japan’s Worst Wildfire in Over 50 Years

Tokyo: Rain has helped slow the spread of Japan’s most severe wildfire in over half a century, officials said Thursday, bringing relief to residents as smoke cleared from the skies.

The wildfire, which burned for more than a week around the northern city of Ofunato, claimed one life and forced over 4,500 people to evacuate.

Following a prolonged dry spell, rain began falling on Wednesday, aiding firefighting efforts. “Thanks in part to the rain, the situation has subsided to an extent,” Ofunato Mayor Kiyoshi Fuchigami said in a briefing. He assured residents that evacuation orders would be lifted once safety was confirmed.

Despite significant progress, several columns of white smoke and active fire sources remained, prompting continued caution. “The fires haven’t been fully put out yet,” a local fire official stated.