A large-scale fire tore through a residential district in Oita City, southern Japan, forcing the evacuation of 175 residents and leaving one individual unaccounted for, local authorities confirmed.
Fire crews battled intense flames throughout the night as the blaze spread from homes to a nearby forested mountain, according to public broadcaster NHK. Despite continuous efforts, firefighters struggled to bring the fire under control due to strong winds and rapidly shifting conditions.
Residents described scenes of chaos and fear as the flames advanced.
One evacuee told NHK that the sky “turned red” as the fire raged. “The wind was strong. I never imagined it would spread this far,” he said. Another resident recalled escaping with only essential belongings: “I grabbed my driver’s licence and smartphone. The mountain behind our homes was burning.”
The fire, which began late yesterday, prompted the emergency evacuation of 115 households, displacing 175 people and impacting at least 170 buildings, officials reported.
Authorities also confirmed that 300 homes in the affected district experienced a power blackout as the fire intensified.
Oita Prefecture’s governor has requested potential support from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces as emergency crews continue to contain the blaze and search for the missing individual.
Emergency responses remain ongoing.
