A fast-moving fire tore through a district of old wooden houses in the Saganoseki area of Oita City in southwestern Japan, killing one person, injuring another and prompting mass evacuations, officials said. At least 170 homes were damaged or destroyed, and more than 170 residents were forced to leave their homes.
Firefighters initially reported a man in his 70s missing; his body was later found and is believed to be his, the Oita prefecture disaster response team said. A woman in her 50s suffered a minor injury.
Dozens of fire engines and more than 200 firefighters were deployed, and the Ground Self-Defense Force sent two UH-1 helicopters to assist. The blaze was not fully under control more than a day after it began, and Oita Mayor Shinya Adachi warned it could take several more days before the fire is completely extinguished.
The fire started Tuesday evening near a coastal fishing port in an area known for mackerel fishing. Strong winds at the time helped the flames spread rapidly, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. The fire also burned into a nearby forest, affecting about 4.9 hectares (12 acres).
Efforts were hampered by narrow backstreets that fire engines could not reach and by abandoned houses in the aging neighborhood, officials and local media reported. Television footage showed smoke over large swaths of damaged and destroyed homes; by midday Wednesday visible orange flames had mostly died down. About 260 households remained without electricity Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and the reasons it spread so quickly. Residents described evacuating on short notice, fleeing with only a few belongings as the blaze “spread in the blink of an eye.” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted messages of sympathy on X and pledged to provide “maximum support.”