Japan Battles Biggest Urban Fire in Nearly 50 Years

Japan is confronting a massive urban blaze in Oita, where strong winds pushed flames from the Saganoseki fishing port through nearby homes and forest areas. More than 170 buildings have been destroyed and over 170 residents evacuated as firefighters and Self Defense Force units work to contain the devastation.

Authorities say a man in his seventies is missing, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The country’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency has described the incident as Japan’s largest urban fire in almost half a century, with containment efforts continuing today.