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48m ago

Saganoseki Fire in Oita Damages Over 170 Buildings, One Dead as Crews Near Control

Authorities invoked disaster relief measures, requesting Self-Defense Forces support, establishing a central liaison.

Smoke rises from a site where a massive fire blazed through more than 170 buildings, as seen from a helicopter, in Oita, Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, November 19, 2025, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
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Smoke rises from the site where a massive fire blazed through more than 170 buildings, as seen from a helicopter, in Oita, Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, November 19, 2025, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Overview

  • The blaze was first reported around 5:40–5:45 p.m. Tuesday and was driven by strong winds through a residential district into surrounding forests.
  • Officials say more than 170 buildings were destroyed or damaged across an estimated 48,900 square meters, with fires also detected on nearby Tsutashima island.
  • About 115 households, or roughly 175 people, evacuated to shelters, and power outages affected approximately 270 to 300 homes.
  • One person found in cardiac arrest was confirmed dead as police work to confirm the identity, and a 76-year-old resident, Kiyoshi Inagaki, remains unaccounted for.
  • Over 50 fire engines and disaster helicopters from Oita and Kumamoto were deployed, the prime minister pledged maximum support, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.