Japan: Raging wildfires cause mass evacuations

Two large forest fires in Japan's Iwate region have prompted authorities to evacuate several thousand people from their homes as the flames approached residential areas on Saturday.

The blazes have burned out some 700 hectares (1,730 acres) since breaking out three days ago, according to local government officials.

What do we know about the Japanese wildfires?

• About a dozen helicopters and more than 1,300 firefighters as well as Japan Self-Defense Forces troops were to be deployed on Saturday to combat the fires, a statement by the officials said.
• The fires had burned at least eight buildings, but all the residents had evacuated, it said.

• The town of Otsuchi is being threatened by the approaching flames, with about a third of the town's residents ordered to evacuate.

• ⁠1,541 ​households and 3,233 people in the affected region had been urged to evacuate as of ​Saturday morning.

• Media have reported that the two ⁠fires have burned up the third-largest area of any wildfire in ⁠Japan.

Climate change creating ideal wildfire conditions

The fires come as Japan experiences ever-drier winters.

Last year, the Iwate city of Ofunato experienced Japan's worst wildfire in more than half a century, with 3,370 hectares consumed by the flames.

Scientists have long warned that climate change caused by humankind's activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, is leading to more intense and longer drought periods that are favorable to wildfires.

Edited by: Sean Sinico