Photos| Japan extinguishes its largest forest fire in decades after fighting it for 11 days

Officials reported that Firefighters in Japan succeeded in extinguishing a forest fire that broke out in the north of the country and was described as the largest in decades, after fighting it for 11 days, according to officials.

Since late April, hundreds of Firefighters and more than a thousand military personnel The fire destroyed about 1,600 hectares in the mountainous Iwate region.

The affected area is approximately five times the size of Central Park in New York City.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, at least eight buildings were damaged, two people were slightly injured, and thousands of people were evacuated.

Kozo Hirano, mayor of Otsuchi, said in a statement The region, told reporters Saturday that "The fire was reported to be under control"He attributed the containment of the fire to air and ground firefighting operations and heavy rains.

But he indicated that the authorities will remain vigilant to the possibility of burning embers remaining.

Kyodo News Agency reported that this is the second largest forest fire in Japan in more than 30 years.

The increasing dryness of winters has led to a higher risk of such Fires.

Last year, Iwate witnessed another fire that destroyed 2,600 hectares, the largest in Japan since 1975, when a fire burned 2,700 hectares in Kushiro on the northern island of Hokkaido.

Scientists warn that climate change will make droughts more intense and longer-lasting, creating ideal conditions for forest fires.