Earthquake, Tsunami, and Forest Fires Strike Iwate Prefecture in Succession
According to a report from Yomiuri Shimbun on April 23: Two forest fires broke out in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, continued spreading on the 23rd, prompting the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch helicopters for firefighting.
Local authorities reported that by this morning, the burned area had expanded to over 200 hectares, with seven buildings—including residential homes—completely destroyed. A total of 102 households, comprising 245 people, have been evacuated.
As the "Hokkaido-Sanriku Earthquake Early Warning" was issued, evacuees' anxiety has intensified.
The fire erupted around 1:55 p.m. on the 22nd in the Otsuchi area. Around 4:30 a.m. the next day, another fire broke out about 10 kilometers away in the Kiri-kiri district. Evacuation orders were issued to approximately 1,900 people across 900 households. A woman over 60 fell at the evacuation center and sustained minor injuries.
After receiving disaster relief requests, the Self-Defense Forces began using helicopters for firefighting in the Kiri-kiri area starting early on the 23rd.
Disaster prevention helicopters from Aomori and Akita prefectures will also join the relief efforts.
The areas surrounding the fires had previously suffered damage from the tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake. On the 20th, an evacuation order was temporarily issued due to tsunami warnings following the earthquake. The fire is said to be about 100 meters from residential zones.
A 63-year-old seaweed farmer woman spent the night at the evacuation center located in the municipal Kiri-kiri Gakuen Elementary School, her face grim. She said, “I couldn’t sleep—I’m worried about my home, and about not being able to work. In the late afternoon of the 22nd, while transporting seaweed near the fishing port, I noticed white smoke rising from the direction of my house. When I rushed home, thick smoke was billowing around my home, with sparks flying everywhere. The fire department urged us to head immediately to the evacuation center while we were trying to extinguish the flames with water.”
Fifteen years ago, her home was largely destroyed by the tsunami. She rebuilt her house on a hillside, but still hasn't paid off her loan. She added, “I’m afraid of earthquakes—they bring back memories of past disasters.”
Tents lined up in a row at Seiyama Park Gymnasium, which serves as an evacuation center for the Otsuchi area. A 49-year-old man, who belongs to a local organization composed of residents whose homes were destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, said, “The fire and thick smoke loom over my newly rebuilt home on higher ground. I pray daily—endlessly evacuating again and again is emotionally exhausting.”
A 27-year-old Indonesian man, who had stayed for a while in a tent at a food factory with his colleagues, expressed concern about the dormitory conditions, saying, “Being in a strange evacuation center makes me physically uncomfortable.”
According to the Morioka Regional Meteorological Observatory, a dry weather warning has been issued for Otsuchi Town on the morning of the 23rd. There will be no heavy rain expected in the coming days.
7.7 Magnitude Earthquake in Japan
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863259533351178/
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