Iwate wildfire victims begin moving into temporary housing
People affected by a major wildfire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, earlier this year began moving into temporary housing in the northeastern city on Saturday.
Seven housing units, each about 30 to 40 square meters in size, were built on the grounds of a former elementary school in the city's Akasaki district.
On May 24, affected people will move into 26 housing units built on the grounds of a former junior high school in the Sanriku district.
The rent-free temporary housing will be available for two years in principle.
Temporary housing built on the grounds of a former elementary school in Akasaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Saturday. |
Jiji
Satoko Sodeno, 70, who lost her home in the fire, was busy assembling a bed in her unit on Saturday. While staying at an evacuation shelter, she was bothered by the sounds around her. Now, however, she said, "I don't have to worry about that."
Before the wildfire, Sodeno lived with her son and his family. Considering the size of the unit, she has decided to live alone for now. "I hope I can live with the rest of my family in two years," she said.
The wildfire began on Feb. 26, burning about 3,370 hectares and leaving one man dead before the city declared it extinguished on April 7. The fire also damaged 90 houses, 54 of which were completely destroyed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
4 hours ago
- NHK
Banner painter keeps father's eye-popping legacy alive
Iwaki Enobori banners are big, bold and bursting with color — perfect for marking Children's Day each May. They're hand-painted in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, where a fourth-generation artisan is picking up exactly where his father left off.
Japan Times
17 hours ago
- Japan Times
Swarms of midges plague Osaka Expo site
Midges have crashed the party at the 2025 Osaka Expo. Chironomid midges, which closely resemble mosquitoes, have been found swarming in huge numbers across the site. While they are not directly harmful to humans, they are annoying visitors. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition has almost identified where the insects are coming from, but the reason for their explosive increase remains unknown. The Osaka Expo organizer has sought the help of an insecticide manufacturer and others to find a quick solution. According to the association, the midges tend to be active in the evening and later at the venue, often appearing on the roof of the event's iconic Grand Ring, and in and around waterside areas. Since midge outbreaks tend to occur in brackish waters, the organizer believes that the midges are emerging in the venue's Water Plaza and the Sea of Connections areas. The organizer plans to set up a committee including experts to draw up an insect control plan. Although chironomid midges do not suck blood, they may cause allergies in humans who inhale their remains, according to the organizer. On Wednesday, visitors were seen swatting away the pesky insects while strolling around the venue on Yumeshima, an artificial island. In hopes of eradicating the midges, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura has asked major Japanese insecticide maker Earth for help. The company has provided the venue with related products, including the Mushi Konai Earth insect repellent. It and the organizer have also conducted a field survey on the midge outbreak. As the number of visitors is expected to increase toward the end of the event in October, keeping the midge infestation at bay is a pressing issue. In a statement released this week, the association said it will "take immediate measures against the chironomid midges to ensure that visitors can enjoy a pleasant day at the Expo site."
NHK
a day ago
- NHK
Illegal drug detected in driver whose car plunged onto expressway in Japan
Investigative sources say the driver of a vehicle that fell onto the Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, tested positive for an illegal drug. The passenger car, driven by a 47-year-old man, broke through a roadside barrier in Hamamatsu City on Sunday afternoon and plunged onto the expressway about 10 meters below. The driver fled the scene, leaving two children inside the car. Police have arrested the driver on suspicion of driving a car without a license and abandoning the car on the expressway. Police are investigating why the suspect left the two children at the scene. Their mother and the suspect are believed to be in a relationship.
