Japan is battling its worst forest fire in three decades, which has claimed one life and forced the evacuation of over a thousand residents. Since the blaze erupted on Wednesday, it has scorched approximately 1,800 hectares in the Ōfunato Forest.

Japan's disaster management agency on Sunday called for additional firefighters across the country to assist in combating a forest fire that continues to spread in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate.

Nearly 1,700 firefighters from around 450 departments across the country have been deployed to combat the blaze, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The fire has spread across a vast area, intensifying in the northern and western parts of central Sanriku-chō Ryōiri, expanding by approximately 400 hectares since the previous morning.

Air and ground operations are underway to contain the blaze as thick smoke from the forest drifts toward residential areas. A total of six self-defense force helicopters joined the operation to contain the fire which burned about 100 houses so far.

Authorities have issued evacuation orders for 4,600 residents across 16 districts, while more than 1,200 people have already taken shelter in city facilities.

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