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Japan: Otsuchi Town in Iwate Shrouded in Smoke From Wildfire

Two wildfires burning in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture have entered their sixth day, with flames continuing to spread into school grounds and residential neighborhoods, prompting authorities to issue new evacuation orders for additional districts. The fires, which broke out on April 22, have scorched more than 1,600 hectares. The videos show the Kirikiri district shrouded in smoke from one of the fires on April 25.

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Japan: Wildfires Grow in Iwate’s Otsuchi as Evacuation Orders Widen

Two wildfires broke out in forested areas of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, in northeast Japan on the afternoon of April 22. The blazes have scorched more than 1,000 hectares of land as of Friday, April 24, with at least eight structures — including a home — reported destroyed. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people as firefighting efforts continue.

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Japan: Wildfires Rage in Iwate, Displacing 2,000 Residents and Destroying Homes

Two wildfires broke out simultaneously in forested areas of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, in northern Japan on the afternoon of April 22, local authorities confirmed. According to town officials, the blazes have scorched more than 200 hectares of land, with at least seven structures — including residential homes — reported destroyed. In response, authorities issued evacuation orders for approximately 2,000 residents as firefighting efforts continue.

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Tsunami-hit Iwate beach reopens after 3 years of cleanup

MORIOKA, Japan - Children play at Kirikiri beach in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 26, 2014, after it reopened following three years of work to remove debris caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Only one-third, or a roughly 130-meter section, of the beach is open for swimming through Aug. 10 due to ongoing work to rebuild a breakwater.

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Tsunami-hit Iwate beach reopens after 3 years of cleanup

MORIOKA, Japan - Children play at Kirikiri beach in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 26, 2014, after it reopened following three years of work to remove debris caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Only one-third, or a roughly 130-meter section, of the beach is open for swimming through Aug. 10 due to ongoing work to rebuild a breakwater.

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Shiki troupe performs in Iwate Pref.

OTSUCHI, Japan - Members of Shiki Theatre Co. perform at Kirikiri Junior High School in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 25, 2011, for children affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The troupe is scheduled to tour 13 municipalities in disaster-hit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures through Aug. 26, 2011.

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Shiki troupe performs in Iwate Pref.

OTSUCHI, Japan - Members of Shiki Theatre Co. perform at Kirikiri Junior High School in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 25, 2011, for children affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The troupe is scheduled to tour 13 municipalities in disaster-hit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures through Aug. 26, 2011.

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Recovery efforts in tsunami-hit Otsuchi

OTSUCHI, Japan - Members of the Wakayama prefectural police work to haul a sunken car at Kirikiri beach in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on April 24, 2011.

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Students in tsunami-hit town enjoy playing cards in dialect

Kirikiri Gakuen middle school students in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, enjoy a game with playing cards written in the dialect of the northeastern Japan district on Sept. 8, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Playing cards in tsunami-hit town written in local dialect

Photo taken on Sept. 15, 2015, shows playing cards written in the dialect of the Kirikiri district of Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture. The cards of the northeastern Japan area, ravaged by the 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami, were made by Meiji Gakuin University students to help hand down the dialect to the next generation and were adopted by a local school as an educational tool. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tsunami-hit area then and now

Photo (top) taken March 14, 2011 shows Kirikiri Beach in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, three days after the area was devastated by the M9.0 earthquake and tsunami. Bottom photo shows how the beach looks on July 31, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shiki troupe performs in Iwate Pref.

OTSUCHI, Japan - Members of Shiki Theatre Co. perform at Kirikiri Junior High School in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 25, 2011, for children affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The troupe is scheduled to tour 13 municipalities in disaster-hit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures through Aug. 26, 2011. (Kyodo)

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Shiki troupe performs in Iwate Pref.

OTSUCHI, Japan - Members of Shiki Theatre Co. perform at Kirikiri Junior High School in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 25, 2011, for children affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The troupe is scheduled to tour 13 municipalities in disaster-hit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures through Aug. 26, 2011. (Kyodo)

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Recovery efforts in tsunami-hit Otsuchi

OTSUCHI, Japan - Members of the Wakayama prefectural police work to haul a sunken car at Kirikiri beach in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on April 24, 2011. (Kyodo)

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Tsunami-hit Iwate beach reopens after 3 years of cleanup

MORIOKA, Japan - Children play at Kirikiri beach in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on July 26, 2014, after it reopened following three years of work to remove debris caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Only one-third, or a roughly 130-meter section, of the beach is open for swimming through Aug. 10 due to ongoing work to rebuild a breakwater. (Kyodo)