Overview

• The wildfire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, has burned 2,900 hectares, making it Japan's largest wildfire since 1975.
• Nearly 4,000 people have been evacuated, with 84 buildings damaged and one fatality reported so far.
• Record-low rainfall in February and dry conditions contributed to the fire's rapid spread, but recent rain and snow offer hope for containment.
• Around 2,000 firefighters from across Japan are battling the fire, with efforts complicated by steep terrain and strong winds.
• Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, a former resident of Ofunato, donated ¥10 million and relief supplies to support affected residents.