A massive fire tore through the Saganoseki district of Oita City on Tuesday evening, destroying over 170 buildings and marking Japan’s largest urban blaze in nearly half a century.
The fire, fueled by strong winds, spread rapidly across the coastal town and even reached nearby forested areas and an uninhabited island. One person was confirmed dead, while another, a man in his 70s, was initially reported missing. A woman in her 50s was hospitalized with burns.
More than 50 fire trucks and helicopters were deployed to contain the blaze, which raged for nearly 20 hours before being brought under control. Around 175 residents were evacuated to emergency shelters, and power outages affected over 270 homes.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences to the victims and pledged full government support for recovery efforts.
The incident is being compared to the 1976 Sakata fire, which previously held the record for Japan’s largest non-earthquake-related urban blaze.