OTSUCHI: Hundreds of firefighters are struggling to control wildfires in northern Japan’s forests on Saturday, while authorities have advised more than 3,200 residents to evacuate their homes, officials announced.
By Saturday morning, the fires in the rugged mountains of the Iwate region had scorched approximately 700 hectares (1,730 acres) over the past three days, according to local officials.
A massive plume of smoke, visible and detectable from 30 kilometers (roughly 20 miles) away, rose from the valley near Otsuchi, as two helicopters deployed water onto the burning woods.
Firefighters near Otsuchi were also actively spraying water on the forests close to residential areas threatened by the flames.
On Saturday, around a dozen helicopters and more than 1,300 personnel, including Japan Self-Defense Forces troops, were dispatched to combat the fires.
At least eight structures have been destroyed, but all residents have already evacuated, officials confirmed.
“We are making efforts to put out the fires and will provide updates later today,” an official from Iwate stated to AFP.
A local man in Otsuchi expressed hope for rain, stating, “Hopefully, it will rain soon.”
Increasingly dry winters have heightened wildfire risks in the region. Last year, a fire in Ofunato city in Iwate was recorded as Japan’s worst in over fifty years.
Experts have long warned that climate change—driven by human fossil fuel consumption—is intensifying drought conditions, prolonging dry spells, and creating prime conditions for wildfires to spread more easily.
Hundreds of firefighters across Portugal and Spain are battling new wildfires following a summer marred by destructive blazes, according to civil protection authorities.
Strong winds have intensified the flames in several regions, leading to road closures, evacuations of villages, and urgent measures to safeguard homes. The largest blaze is currently burning near Seia in central Portugal, where a team of 600 firefighters has been deployed, the civil protection agency reported.
The main focus is “protecting residential areas,” a civil protection spokesperson told the Lusa news agency. Authorities also announced the arrest of a suspect believed to have sparked the fire.
In Spain’s northwest, officials placed the small village of Castromil under confinement as a precaution on Saturday because of a nearby fire. This area was heavily affected by a series of devastating fires in August. Due to strong winds, the fire there reignited on Saturday, according to an environment ministry source in Castilla y León.
Spain officially lifted a state of emergency on Sunday that had been in effect for several weeks, marking one of the most severe wildfire outbreaks in recent years. The fires resulted in four fatalities and burned over 300,000 hectares.
In August, central and northern Portugal also experienced significant wildfires that claimed four lives and injured several individuals. These fires destroyed approximately 254,000 hectares of land, the worst toll since 2017, according to data from the National Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation.
This year, Portugal endured its hottest summer since 1931, as reported by the national meteorological agency.
ANDONG, SOUTH KOREA – On Thursday, wildfires in South Korea surged in size, now recognized as the nation’s most catastrophic wildfire disaster. Reports confirm at least 28 fatalities and the destruction of historic temples.
The affected area encompasses over 38,000 hectares (approximately 93,900 acres), originating from a fire in Uiseong County. This marks the largest forest fire in the country’s recorded history, surpassing a previous incident in March 2000 that burned 24,000 hectares (around 59,000 acres).
“We are facing a national emergency, with significant casualties due to the unprecedented speed at which these wildfires are spreading,” stated Acting President Han Duck-soo during a government briefing.
In response, the military has deployed aviation fuel reserves to ensure fire-fighting helicopters can continue combatting the flames in the mountainous southeast regions, where the fires have persisted for nearly a week.
A resident stands near destroyed property after a wildfire struck Uiseong, South Korea, March 27, 2025. — Reuters
To combat the blazes, over 120 helicopters have been dispatched to three different areas, according to the safety ministry. Given the country’s hilly terrain, helicopters are vital in firefighting efforts. Tragically, one pilot lost his life on Wednesday when his helicopter crashed while attempting to extinguish the flames.
The Uiseong-originating wildfires have quickly advanced eastward, almost reaching the coast, propelled by strong winds and dry conditions that worsen the situation.
The situation escalated sharply on Wednesday, with the fire extending to the coastal county of Yeongdeok, approximately 50 km (30 miles) away, within just 12 hours, as noted by Won Myung-soo, who directs satellite imagery analysis for the national forestry service.
On Thursday evening, light rain fell in parts of the affected areas. While the one millimeter of precipitation was insufficient to extinguish the primary fire, officials believe it might assist in containing it. A similar amount of rain is anticipated for Friday.
Firefighters put out embers on a mountain near the Gounsa temple after a wildfire devastated the area, in Uiseong, South Korea, March 27, 2025. — Reuters
Experts noted that the rapid spread of the Uiseong fire is unprecedented in terms of scale and velocity, and they anticipate climate change will lead to more frequent and deadly wildfires worldwide.
Escalating temperatures, exacerbated by human-induced climate change, have intensified the dry conditions, effectively turning previously arid landscapes into highly flammable areas, according to a report by Climate Central, a group of scientists and researchers.
The wildfires have devastated an area comparable to half the size of Singapore, destroying everything in their path, including historic temples and residences in the mountainous forests of North Gyeongsang province.
Firefighting teams are on the alert to protect the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in Andong, should a fire cross the stream surrounding them.
Smoke billows from the remnants of Gounsa temple after a wildfire obliterated the area in Uiseong, South Korea. March 27, 2025. — Reuters
This picturesque folk village features traditional Korean houses, many characterized by thatched roofs, and the Confucian academy boasts a heritage of over 450 years.
The fires have already inflicted substantial damage on other historical landmarks, including a significant portion of Gounsa Temple, constructed in 681.
“The buildings and artifacts left by Buddhist monks for over 1,300 years have all vanished,” lamented Deungwoon, the head of Gounsa Temple.
