On Tuesday evening (November 18), a large-scale fire broke out in the Saga Seki area of Oita City, Japan, and has been burning for over half a day without being extinguished. As of the morning of the 19th, the fire has spread to more than 170 buildings including residences, with a 76-year-old man reported missing. Firefighters and relevant departments are continuing firefighting and rescue operations.
The Oita Prefectural Government stated that the fire occurred around 5:40-45 pm on the 18th, with nearby residents reporting a “house on fire.” Due to the dense residential area and strengthening winds, the fire rapidly spread and extended to surrounding mountains, further complicating firefighting efforts.
The Oita Prefecture Disaster Response Headquarters indicated that the missing person is a 76-year-old man who lived near the site of the fire, with preliminary assessments suggesting he may be trapped in the fire. Police and firefighters are continuing to search for relevant clues.
Video footage from the Oita Broadcasting Association (NHK) Oita branch on X platform (link) shows flames soaring in the densely populated residential area, with thick smoke continuously rising as the fire continues to burn fiercely.
According to official statistics, as of 11:40 pm on the 18th, 115 households totaling 175 people have temporarily evacuated to nearby community centers and other shelters.
Due to the uncontrollable nature of the fire, Oita Prefecture has decided to activate the Disaster Relief Act for Oita City, sharing the operational and emergency rescue costs between the central and local governments.
The prefectural government also mentioned that they are coordinating with the Ministry of Defense to request disaster dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to support firefighting and rescue operations.
Firefighting units stated that they cannot currently estimate when the fire will be completely extinguished, with all departments fully engaged in operations to prevent the situation from further escalating.
(This article referenced reports from the Japan Broadcasting Corporation)