Editorial

15:20 JST, November 21, 2025

Strong winds likely helped the fire spread across a wider area, causing more damage. In dense residential areas, fires tend to become massive. Efforts must be made to enhance regional disaster preparedness, such as by expanding and improving fire prevention equipment.

A massive fire broke out in the Saganoseki district of Oita City on the evening of Nov. 18, burning about 170 houses and other structures. One body was found in the burned ruins. The Oita prefectural government decided to apply the Disaster Relief Law to the city and requested that Self-Defense Forces personnel be dispatched for a disaster relief mission.

The burned area spanned 48,900 square meters. Fire also spread to about 10 nearby mountainous areas and an uninhabited island about 1.4 kilometers from the scene.

According to residents, embers swirled........

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