Tokyo, April 24 (IANS) A wildfire in Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan remains largely uncontained, with the burned area expanding to nearly 1,200 hectares as of 6 a.m. local time Friday, local media reported. Since breaking out on Wednesday in a mountainous area of Otsuchi Town, the fire has destroyed eight buildings, including residential houses, as per Kyodo News.Otsuchi has issued evacuation orders to nearly 2,600 people, about one quarter of the town’s population.Helicopters from the I…
Latest Hokkaido News & Updates
Tokyo, April 20 (IANS) Tsunami waves were observed off Iwate and Aomori prefectures in the Pacific Ocean after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast in northeastern Japan Monday afternoon. Tsunami warnings were issued for Aomori, Iwate prefectures and Hokkaido on the Pacific coast by the country’s weather agency. It also forecast tsunami waves of up to three metres are to arrive immediately.Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture recorded an 80-cm wave, reported Xinhua news agency.“A…
Tokyo, March 6 (IANS) Japan’s agriculture ministry has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in Hokkaido, marking the northern prefecture’s fourth case and the country’s 21st outbreak this season.The affected farm, located in the town of Abira, keeps about 190,000 chickens, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said in a statement on Thursday.Local authorities were notified by the farm on Wednesday. A rapid avian influenza test conducted the s…
Tokyo, Jan 14 (IANS) Blizzards, strong winds and extreme cold disrupted rail services across northern Japan on Wednesday, as rough winter weather intensified around Hokkaido and areas along the Sea of Japan coast. JR Hokkaido said 50 train services have been suspended since Tuesday due to strong winds, blowing snow and low temperatures. At New Chitose Airport, 82 departing and arriving flights have been cancelled, while numerous others have experienced delays since Tuesday.Authorities warned tha…
Tokyo, Dec 29 (IANS) A five-year-old boy died after his right arm was caught in a travelator at a ski resort in Japan’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido, local authorities said.The accident occurred at the Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort in Otaru on Sunday morning (local time), when the boy became trapped in a moving walkway connecting the parking area to the ski slope. His mother called emergency services to report the incident, reports Xinhua, quoting Kyodo News Agency.The boy, a resident of Sapporo…
Tokyo, Dec 24 (IANS) Japan’s agriculture ministry said on Wednesday that genetic testing has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a farm in Kyoto Prefecture, marking the ninth bird flu outbreak in the country this season.According to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the outbreak occurred at a poultry farm in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, which raises approximately 280,000 egg-laying chickens.Local authorities received a repor…