A massive wildfire has been ravaging a small port city in northern Japan, consuming over 2,100 hectares of forested land since its ignition on February 26. The fire, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, had already burned through an estimated 1,200 hectares as of March 1, making it the country’s largest blaze in over 30 years.
Located near Ofunato, a city approximately 400 kilometers north of Tokyo, the fire has damaged dozens of structures and prompted evacuation orders for over 4,500 people. More than 2,000 firefighters from across Japan were deployed to combat the blaze, which is expected to continue posing a threat due to challenging terrain.
The fire’s rapid growth was exacerbated by record-low precipitation in February 2025, with Ofunato receiving only 2.5 millimeters of rain. This, combined with strong winds and steep terrain, has made it difficult for authorities to contain the blaze.
Experts attribute the fire’s severity to climate change, which is causing wildland fires to burn longer and more often in certain regions.
Source: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154008/fire-grows-unusually-large-in-japan