Massive Fire in Southwestern Japan Damages 170 Homes and Forces Widespread Evacuations

Updated 19 November 2025 01:55 PM

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Massive Fire in Southwestern Japan Damages 170 Homes and Forces Widespread Evacuations

Tokyo, Nov 19 (AP) Firefighters were battling an out-of-control fire on Wednesday morning that has burned through a neighbourhood in southwestern Japan and forced more than 170 people to evacuate.

At least 170 homes have been damaged and a man in his 70s was unaccounted for, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

The fire started during strong winds on Tuesday evening near a fishing port in the city of Oita and spread to a forest. Oita is on the southern island of Kyushu.

One resident told Kyodo News Agency she quickly fled without many of her belongings because the fire “spread in the blink of an eye.”

This report includes content sourced from Press Trust of India (PTI), edited for clarity and context.

Tags: Japan fire 170 homes, Japan evacuations, southwestern Japan blaze, Japan disaster news, breaking world news, fire incident Japan