The area of a forest fire in Japan has increased to 2.1 thousand hectares.

"The area of forest fires in Ofunato city, Iwate Prefecture, as of 06:00 a.m. (00:00 GMT. — Ed.) on the 3rd increased to about 2.1 thousand hectares," the publication said.

It is specified that one person died as a result of forest fires, the number of missing is being clarified. About 90 residential and commercial buildings were also destroyed or damaged. At the same time, the drought is expected to persist in the city of Ofunato.

"As of 07:00 a.m. (01:00 Moscow time. On the 3rd, 1,197 people were evacuated to 12 evacuation centers, including the evacuation center for social security," the TV channel added.

At the same time, extinguishing a forest fire is carried out from the air using helicopters. Firefighters from all over the country are working around the clock at the site.

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The Arab News newspaper reported on March 2 that in Japan, the evacuation of local residents began due to a forest fire that covered more than 1.2 thousand hectares. It was already noted at the time that this was the largest fire since 1992.

February 26 three fires were recorded in Iwate Prefecture in the Akasaki-te-Gozoku area of the city of Ofunato, in the Koji and Takhama areas of the city of Ayasato and in the city of Sanriku. As a result of the fire, more than 600 hectares burned out, damage was recorded in 84 houses. More than 2 thousand people received recommendations for evacuation.