Japan’s worst urban fire in decades destroys 170 buildings

A fire broke out in Oita city on the Japanese island of Kyushu, damaging at least 170 buildings and forcing residents to evacuate, authorities said.

Aerial footage showed the fire, said to be as big as seven football fields, destroyed several residential buildings near a fishing port.

This is Japan’s largest urban fire since 1976 (excluding fires caused by earthquakes).

Local media said one person had died and the cause of the fire was still under investigation.