According to local reports, two forest fires in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, have burned about 1,176 hectares as of April 24, 2026, early morning.
The burned area is more than five times the previous day's figure.
The fires have destroyed eight structures, including homes and a warehouse.
Firefighters worked through the night, while helicopters from the prefectural government and Self-Defense Forces conducted aerial water drops.
As of early morning, 325 people from 127 households were sheltering at four evacuation centers.
Evacuation orders were issued for 2,588 people, about a quarter of the town's population.
Assistance has arrived from Miyagi, Aomori, Akita, and Yamagata prefectures, with additional disaster prevention helicopters joining the effort.
A water shortage in the Kirikiri district has forced residents to conserve water.
Mayor Kozo Hirano described the situation as severe, with smoke billowing more heavily than the previous day, and emphasized continued coordination with fire fighting teams to ensure public safety.
