The wildfire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, has entered its seventh day since the initial outbreak, with authorities reporting that while the fire's overall intensity is largely under control, smoke continues to rise amid rain forecasts for today. The Japanese government has announced plans to designate the disaster a “local severe disaster,” enabling enhanced support.
On the sixth day, the first rainfall since the fire began provided some relief, but residents and firefighters expressed that the precipitation was insufficient. “I’ve been waiting for rain, but this is not enough,” one local official stated, noting that the 2.5 mm of rain recorded per hour did little to quell the smoldering underground fires.
The fire has already burned an area larger than Haneda Airport, prompting evacuation orders for about 30% of the town's population. Firefighting efforts continue, with teams focusing on hotspots deep in the soil. Today, rain is expected to continue until noon tomorrow, offering hope but not a guarantee of containment.
In response to the crisis, the government is mobilizing resources, with the Prime Minister vowing a unified response. Meanwhile, local volunteers have set up play areas for children displaced by the fires, providing a semblance of normalcy amid the devastation.
TBS NEWS DIG reports from the scene, where the community remains on edge, hoping for steady rain to finally douse the stubborn flames.