Rain checks spread of Japan wildfire

Tokyo (AFP) Mar 6, 2025

Rain appears to have halted the spread of Japan's worst wildfire in more than half a century, officials said Thursday, as residents expressed relief the smoke was gone. The blaze had raged around the northern city of Ofunato for more than a week, killing one person and forcing more than 4,500 residents to evacuate their homes. "We confirmed this morning from the air that the burnt area a