A large fire ignites in Japanese city, 50 homes burned down

World News Rudolph Rodriquez
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A large fire ravages Itoigawa City, a small town in north eastern Japan, where more than 50 homes have been engulfed in flames, according to Russia Today. Hundreds of people have been evacuated, as more and more firefighters and emergency personal arrived to try and stop the fire and help the injured.

“At the moment, our fire extinguishing operations are on the way, and at least 50 homes and other buildings have been damaged in less than 5 hours”, stated a spokesman for the fire department. Two 40-year-old women were injured, but no life-threatening injuries occurred.

At least 17 firetrucks arrived at the site, and the authorities have ordered the evacuation of all 586 buildings that surrounded the epicenter.

The fire started in a Chinese restaurant, and spread quickly due to strong southerly winds. These gusts of wind were formed around noon and have a speed of almost 90 kilometers and hour developed low over the Sea of Japan.

Niigata Governor Ryuichi Yoneyam has asked for military aid, troops already being on the way to the coastal city, according to an official in the fire division of the prefectural government.

“Sparks of fire flew around,” a witness who lives in the area told NHK. “That’s why far away buildings unexpectedly caught fire and it became large scale. I’ve never see something like this before.”

Niigata Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshu on the coast of the Sea of Japan.