1 Killed and 170 Buildings Damaged as Japan’s Largest Fire in Almost 50 Years Ravages Residential District

One person has died and around 170 homes have been damaged after a large fire swept through a residential neighborhood in Japan.

The blaze broke out on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the Saganoseki district of Oita City, about 478 miles southwest of Tokyo, according to Japanese newspapers Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun.

Firefighters continued battling the flames into Wednesday, as the fire had not yet been fully extinguished, per Yomiuri Shimbun.

Covering an estimated 527,000 square feet, the incident is being described as Japan’s worst fire in nearly half a century, according to Reuters.

A person found at the scene in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest was later pronounced dead by a doctor at 12:38 p.m. on Nov. 18, Asahi Shimbun reported. The individual’s identity has not yet been confirmed.

Prefectural police also said that a 76-year-old man from the area is currently unaccounted for, the outlet added.

Requests for comment have been sent to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Authorities received the first emergency call at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, when a resident phoned to report, “I can see houses burning,” according to Asahi Shimbun. Seventeen fire trucks initially responded to the scene, with many remaining in the area as efforts continued.

By Wednesday morning, about 170 residents from 110 households had been evacuated to the Saganoseki community center, the newspaper reported.

Roughly 250 households were also left without electricity at around 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

A man in his 40s told Asahi Shimbun that when he tried to return to his home on Wednesday, the area was cordoned off. Emergency crews were still spraying water on the smoldering remains as white smoke rose from the district.

Shogo Fujikawa, a senior official with the Oita prefectural government, said, according to Kyodo News, “The smoke is decreasing and [we’re moving] toward bringing the situation under control,” while cautioning against drawing conclusions too early.

Kyodo News also reported that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on the social media platform X that her government would provide “maximum support in coordination with local governments.”

“The wind was strong, so the fire spread extremely quickly. I haven’t seen what happened to my house yet, but I think I’ll be shocked when I see it,” a 66-year-old man told Yomiuri Shimbun.

An 85-year-old man whose home burned down recalled, “Sparks flew into my face, and it was hot. I lay down in the evacuation center yesterday, but couldn’t sleep. I want to go see my house soon.”

Another man in his 60s said, “I fled with only the clothes on my back.”

Cold air is believed to have intensified the strong winds that drove the flames, Asahi Shimbun reported, citing the Japan Meteorological Agency. The agency added that wind speeds have since decreased, helping firefighters work toward containment.