Otsuchi puts April wildfire forest damage at ¥1.89bn; 1,620 hectares burned
In short
Otsuchi town in Iwate Prefecture said the forests burned in April's wildfire suffered damage of about ¥1.89bn (18.93 million yen… 1.893 billion yen), and confirmed the burned area at 1,620 hectares. The town said about 500 forest owners were surveyed on regeneration, with more than 80% responding by the end of September and 95% of those agreeing to entrust management of the forest to the town for 25 years under a fully publicly funded recovery project. The fire broke out on April 22 in the Kozuchi and Kirikiri districts and was extinguished on May 29.
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Otsuchi town in Iwate Prefecture announced on October 5 that forests burned in the wildfire that broke out in April suffered damage of about ¥1.89bn, and that the burned area has been confirmed at 1,620 hectares. The town gave the figures at its regular press conference, according to TBS NEWS DIG, which reported the damage at roughly ¥1.9bn. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Mainichi Shimbun reported the breakdown: damage to private forest was calculated at ¥1.729bn based on forest insurance payouts, and damage to state forest at ¥164m based on recent sale prices, for a total of ¥1.893bn. The prefecture calculated the figures after confirming burned trees and the extent of damage through ground surveys and aerial inspections, the town said. [ 2 ]
The burned area had previously been an estimate and is now fixed at 1,620 hectares. Mayor Hiramoto Kozo said at the press conference: “We recognised anew that a very large area was damaged. We will work steadily toward forest regeneration.” [ 1 , 2 ]
The town also released the results of a survey of about 500 owners of burned forest on their intentions for regeneration. More than 80% had responded by the end of September, and 95% of respondents so far indicated they agreed to use a fully publicly funded forest disaster recovery project under which the town would be entrusted with managing the forest for 25 years from the start of the project. The town plans to compile a forest regeneration plan by around March 2027 based on the survey results. [ 2 ]
The fire started on April 22 in the Kozuchi district on the mountain side and the Kirikiri district on the sea side, and was extinguished on May 29. Beyond the forest damage, the town estimates damage to commerce and tourism, including cancellations by accommodation guests, at about ¥100m. [ 2 ]
TBS NEWS DIG framed the announcement as coming nearly half a year after the fire began, while Nippon TV News reported only the forest damage figure. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures give the first confirmed scale of forest loss from the April fire in Otsuchi, roughly half a year after it started, and set the basis for a town forest regeneration plan due by March 2027. The town also cites about ¥100m in damage to commerce and tourism, including cancelled hotel bookings, indicating effects beyond the forest itself.
Key facts
- Otsuchi town announced on October 5 that forests burned in the April wildfire suffered damage of about ¥1.89bn. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The burned forest area was confirmed at 1,620 hectares, revised from an earlier estimate. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Private forest damage was put at ¥1.729bn based on forest insurance payouts and state forest damage at ¥164m based on recent sale prices, for a total of ¥1.893bn. [ 2 ]
- The fire broke out on April 22 in the Kozuchi district on the mountain side and the Kirikiri district on the sea side, and was extinguished on May 29. [ 2 ]
- Mayor Hiramoto Kozo said the town recognises anew that a very large area was damaged and will work steadily toward forest regeneration. [ 2 ]
- Of about 500 forest owners surveyed, more than 80% had responded by the end of September and 95% of respondents agreed to a 25-year town management arrangement under a fully publicly funded forest disaster recovery project; the town aims to compile a regeneration plan by March 2027. [ 2 ]
- The town puts damage to commerce and tourism, including cancelled hotel bookings, at about ¥100m. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What caused the wildfire. None of the documents states a cause.
- The size of the earlier burned-area estimate that was revised to 1,620 hectares. One summary says the area figure was revised but is truncated before giving the previous number, and the other documents do not give it.
- Details of the forest-owner survey, including the response rate and the 95% agreement figure. These appear in only one document.
- The ¥100m estimate of commerce and tourism damage. Single-source claim reported by one outlet.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that Otsuchi town, at its regular press conference, put damage to burned forest at about ¥1.9bn and set the affected area at 1,620 hectares. [ 1 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun publishes the breakdown of the ¥1.893bn figure, the mayor's remarks and the results of the survey of forest owners. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the town's forest damage figure of ¥1.893bn. [ 3 ]