Wildfires in Ehime and Okayama prefectures have burned over 900 hectares, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of households. The Ehime government has declared affected areas eligible for disaster relief aid. Notable damage includes local construction company buildings, with the situation exacerbated by the unpredictable fire spread.
Wildfires that ignited on Sunday in the Ehime and Okayama prefectures of western Japan have devastated over 900 hectares of land. As reported by authorities, 417 hectares were ablaze in the Ehime city of Imabari by Wednesday afternoon, while approximately 559 hectares were affected in the city of Okayama.
In response to the disaster, the Ehime Prefectural Government declared that Imabari and the adjoining city of Saijo would be eligible for assistance under the disaster relief law. Evacuation orders were issued affecting 3,848 households in Imabari and 1,091 households in Okayama and the nearby city of Tamano. Although the city of Okayama rescinded its evacuation order on Monday evening, it was reissued the following night due to the ongoing threat of the fire.
Mount Kasamatsu, which was impacted by the recent fires, had previously endured a similar wildfire in 2008. A local resident, aged in his 70s, remarked, “The area destroyed (this time) is larger than that 17 years ago.” Additionally, several buildings belonging to a local home construction company, including a factory, were destroyed in Imabari.
Daisuke Toyama, 47, a relative of the construction company’s manager, stated, “It was too late when I came,” suggesting that the local fire department may not have anticipated the fire’s rapid spread to the area.
The wildfires in Ehime and Okayama prefectures have resulted in significant land loss, displacing thousands of residents and causing damage to local businesses. While evacuation orders have been issued and some homes lost, the government has begun providing aid under disaster relief. There is growing concern as the fires continue to threaten affected areas, highlighting the need for preparedness in such emergencies.
Original Source: www.japantimes.co.jp
