Forest Fire Continues to Spread in Japan’s Gunma Pref.; Over 20 Hectares Scorched

Forest Fire Continues to Spread in Japan’s Gunma Pref.; Over 20 Hectares Scorched

UENO, Gunma — Firefighting efforts continued Sunday morning to contain a forest fire that broke out Saturday in the village of Ueno, Gunma Prefecture. According to the prefectural government and the local fire department, the fire had scorched about 21.2 hectares of woodland as of 9:25 p.m. Saturday. The blaze is reportedly spreading west. No injuries have been confirmed so far, though one shed was destroyed.

Forest fire breaks out in Japan's Gunma Prefecture

A forest fire broke out in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Saturday, with no injuries confirmed so far, local media reported. According to public broadcaster NHK, at around 11:30 a.m. local time, a passerby alerted the local fire department after spotting flames rising from the forest in Ueno Village, Gunma Prefecture. Firefighters and disaster-response helicopters were sent to contain the flames, but the fire showed no signs of aba…