Biggest wildfire in decades burning in Japan

Japan is fighting a forest fire that has damaged dozens of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

It's taken hold in the north eastern coastal city of Ofunato, and is the biggest fire Japan has seen in 30 years.

More than 2,000 firefighters from all over the country have been sent to help, with at least 16 helicopters being used.

The country's prime minister Shigeru Ishiba said the government "will take all possible measures to protect people's homes".

Army helicopters have been seen dumping water onto the smouldering hills

The fires are burning in a forest area of Iwate Prefecture, an area where not that many people live.

Since 27 February more than 5,200 acres around the northern Japanese city of Ofunato have been set ablaze.

The government has told about 4,600 people to leave their homes.

Officials said 2,000 have already left the area to stay with friends or relatives, and more than 1,200 have evacuated to shelters.

At least one person has died in the fire, and more than 80 buildings are estimated to have been damaged so far.

Why has this fire been so bad?

Like many other countries, in 2024 Japan recorded its hottest year since records began, which made the ground very dry.

Although January to March is typically Ofunato's driest season, the area saw less rainfall last month than any February in more than 20 years - recording just 2.5 millimetres, compared to the usual average of 41.

It is difficult to know if climate change has caused or worsened these particular fires, because other factors - such as changes to the way land is used - could also have made the fires worse.

However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says, climate change is making the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread more likely.