A man in his 70s is missing and more than 170 people have been evacuated after a huge fire broke out in the Saganoseki district of Oita on Tuesday. At approximately 5:45 p.m., a local resident made an emergency call about a house that was ablaze, and 20 fire engines were subsequently dispatched to extinguish the flames. However, the fire continued to spread. According to authorities, more than 170 buildings, including many houses, have been damaged.
At the time the fire broke out, a strong wind warning was issued for the Saganoseki area. Oita prefecture has set up a disaster response headquarters and is coordinating with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) to dispatch disaster relief units. A total of 175 residents from 115 households are currently sheltering at the Saganoseki Civic Center. As a result of the fire, approximately 350 homes in the Saganoseki area lost power.
Fire in Oita ‘Spread in the Blink of an Eye’
“When I came home from work, I saw orange flames. I was desperately trying to escape while calling out to people nearby. I don’t know what’s happening to my own home,” said one evacuee. Another told Kyodo News that she quickly fled without many of her belongings because the fire “spread in the blink of an eye.” The blaze, which also burned surrounding forests, still hasn’t been brought under control. Authorities have put the disaster relief law into effect for the city, which enables local governments to provide relief such as shelter, meals, and medical care.
The residential district lies about 25 kilometers east of Oita’s city center, near the Saganoseki fishing port. It is surrounded by mountains that have complicated firefighting efforts.
