Forest Fire Threatens Residential Areas in Northern Japan
More than 400 residents in northern Japan were urged to evacuate on Sunday over fears that a forest fire that has been blazing for two days could spread to residential areas. Helicopters poured water for hours on the mountains around the city of Nanyo in Yamagata prefecture to douse the flames, but the operation was called off after dark with the fire still burning.
Evacuation Urged
An official in charge of the disaster response urged over 400 residents in the three districts of the city to evacuate due to the risk of the fire spreading to residential areas. Firefighting efforts were scheduled to resume on Monday morning.
Climate Conditions
The northern city of Nanyo has been experiencing higher-than-average temperatures, with the mercury rising past 31 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The fire, which broke out last Saturday, has already burnt around 95 hectares of land by Sunday night, leading to road closures in the area.
Global Climate Impact
2024 has seen climate extremes and rising greenhouse emissions globally, emphasizing the need for swift action to combat global warming. The city of Sapporo, known for its snow festival, experienced temperatures reaching 25 degrees Celsius last month, the earliest in recorded history dating back to 1877.
Footage from the Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) showed white smoke rising from the mountains, highlighting the severity of the situation.
