Wildfire in Iwate Prefecture in Japan burns about 1,200 hectares; more than 3,000 forced to evacuate due to fire spreading

An aerial views shows a forest fire on a mountain in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, February 28, 2025, in this photo taken by Kyodo. - Photo: Kyodo/via Reuters

IWATE, (Japan): Firefighting efforts continued in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, as the forest fire spread on Friday (Feb 28), and the number of helicopters being used to help put out the fire has increased to 16.

About 1,200 hectares has burned, according to the city government.