Japan partially lifts wildfire evacuation order

ISTANBUL

Japanese authorities announced on Friday that an evacuation order for a city in northeastern Japan was partially lifted as the threat from a wildfire, which started nine days earlier, decreased in certain areas, Kyodo News reported.

The evacuation order was lifted for 957 residents in a portion of Ofunato in Japan’s northeastern Iwate Prefecture; however, the order is still in place for 3,639 people in other parts of the city.

Firefighting efforts, along with recent rainfall, have helped reduce the fire's intensity, but city officials remain vigilant.

"I was worried my house might burn down because we are close to the mountains," one resident said after she was allowed to return home.

"When I saw on TV that the evacuation order was lifted, I was so happy that I cried," she added.

The fire has scorched about 2,900 hectares, accounting for 9% of the city of Ofunato.

As of Thursday, smoke was still visible in several areas, with fire authorities investigating the origin of the blaze.

Despite a strong wind and dry weather advisory for Ofunato, firefighters continued to battle the blaze on Friday.

Local authorities said the fire started on Feb. 26, forcing 1,249 people into evacuation centers and 3,061 people to seek shelter at relatives' homes or other locations.