Authorities lifted most evacuation orders in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on April 29 following a forest fire in the Nagai and Ando districts [1, 2].

The lifting of these orders allows a significant portion of the local population to return to their homes and resume critical economic activities. Because the town relies heavily on coastal resources, the pause in maritime operations threatened the seasonal harvest.

Approximately 30% of the population had been under evacuation orders as the fire spread through the forested hills [2]. Local officials said the danger level had decreased because the expansion of the blaze had stopped [1, 2].

In the Nagai district, 17 households comprising 24 people had their evacuation orders lifted [2]. Residents began returning to normal routines, including hanging laundry outside for the first time since the emergency began [1].

Fishermen have also returned to the water to resume the harvest of wakame seaweed [1, 2]. The harvest had been left untouched during the height of the fire, creating a backlog of work for the local fishing community.

Despite the partial return to normalcy, the fire has not been fully extinguished. As of 6 a.m., officials said that no further spread of the fire had been confirmed, though monitoring continues [2].

“Approximately 30% of the population had been under evacuation orders”

The partial lifting of evacuation orders signals a transition from emergency response to recovery. While the immediate threat to life has diminished, the continued presence of the fire indicates a prolonged risk of flare-ups. The resumption of the wakame harvest is a critical step in mitigating the economic impact on Otsuchi's primary industry.