Extinguishing efforts continued as the bushfire that occurred in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, entered day 6 on March 3.

2,100 hectares of land have been destroyed due to the fire as of 6AM on March 3, up about 300 meters from March 2.

Nearly 4,600 residents have been ordered to evacuate. The fire has also affected local businesses including ones in the aquaculture field.

It spread to the Koishihama area, where local aquaculturist Sasaki grows seaweed.

Sasaki / I saw a huge plume of smoke rising over the mountains when we were thinning out wakame seaweed.

Sasaki had to evacuate his fishing boat to the opposite shore on March 1.

His boat was swept away by the tsunami at the time of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Sasaki / I’m worried that the fire might affect the harvest season. I feel like I am suffering a double, triple disaster.

Support in the area is spreading as the bushfire continues.

Free buses started running between evacuation centers and commercial facilities on March 2. Two buses will run everyday and depart at 8AM and 9AM.