Japan is battling its largest forest fire in three decades, with nearly 1,700 firefighters working to contain the blaze in the northern Iwate region.
The fire, which broke out near Ofunato city on Thursday, has already consumed about 2,100 hectares (5,200 acres) of land and claimed one life last week.
Around 4,600 residents remain under an evacuation advisory, with many taking refuge with family, friends, or in shelters.
Firefighting units from 14 regions, including Tokyo, have joined the effort, with 16 helicopters, some from the military, deployed to fight the flames. By Sunday, the fire had damaged 84 buildings, though officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage.
The fire follows a record-low rainfall period in Iwate, with February receiving only 2.5 millimetres of rain, well below the typical 41 millimetres for the month.
Japan has seen a decline in wildfires since the 1970s, but 2023 recorded about 1,300 fires, mostly in the dry, windy months of February through April.
