Ofunato: Firefighters in Japan are intensifying their efforts to control massive forest fires in Iwate Prefecture, located in the northeast of the country. The fires have erupted amid dry weather conditions, complicating efforts to extinguish them.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the fires began last Wednesday in the city of Ofunato and have since ravaged more than 1,400 hectares of forests as of this morning. The disaster has resulted in the death of one person and the destruction of over 80 homes. Officials caution that it will take time to fully assess the extent of the damage due to the ongoing firefighting efforts.

The local government in Ofunato issued evacuation orders for residents in three additional areas, following the earlier evacuation of 4,600 people. Authorities have confirmed that over a thousand individuals are currently residing in temporary shelters. There are ongoing warnings that the dry weather may persist, potentially exacerbating the spread of the fire.