Largest Residential Fire in Southern Japan in Half a Century
A massive residential fire broke out on Tuesday evening in the Saganoseki district of the coastal city of Oita, destroying over 170 buildings and claiming the life of one person.
Aerial images showed charred houses and thick columns of smoke rising above the area, overlooking a famous fishing port. Reports confirmed that the fire spread to wooded slopes and reached an uninhabited island over a kilometer offshore, fueled by strong winds.
The fire department reported that the fire ravaged approximately 48,900 square meters, equivalent to seven football fields, requiring helicopter support to combat the blaze. The fire also caused a power outage in nearly 300 homes, according to Kyushu Electric, which is working to restore electricity.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on the "X" platform that the government would provide maximum support to those affected, offering condolences to families forced to leave their homes in the cold.
