Japan. A vast fire, thousands of evacuated. “It was like an explosion of a volcano”

The forest fire lasting from Wednesday in the northeastern part of the largest Japanese island of Honsiu consumed about 1.8 thousand hectares of forests until Sunday, the public broadcaster of NHK informed. At least one person was killed.

In the area of ​​the city of ofunato in the Iwate prefecture, evacuation orders were issued for over 4.5 thousand. people, of which 1.2 thousand has already moved to shelter. The decision was issued because over the last three days the fire has spread to at least twice as large. The authorities announced that over 80 houses were destroyed. Schools were closed and some of the draft connections were suspended.

– It was like a volcano explosion. The flames rose into the sky with great strength. It was terrifying – said a 67 -year -old woman who was forced to evacuate.

The fire, which in the last day covered another 400 ha of forests, is extinguished by over 1.7 thousand. firefighters. The Helicopters of Japanese self -defense forces participate in the air action – Kyodo Information Agency said. In the pictures from the air you can see how extensive damage the fire did. Thick smoke constantly envelops many nearby cities and villages. The flames spread north and west, emptying subsequent areas.

Wind gusters, as well as drought prevailing in the region in the region, are responsible for such strong and uncontrolled expansion of fire. According to data in Japan, such dry February has not been for over two decades.

“There are no signs of slowing the pace of fire, but I hope that it will finally be suppressed somehow,” said Kiyoshi Fuchigami, the mayor of ofunato.

Local media emphasize that this is the largest cataclysm of this type since at least 1992. Then the fire digested almost 1000 hectares of terrain on the northern island of Hokkaido.