Japan will mobilise the newly established Joint Operations Command of the defence ministry to fight wildfires, Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Wildfires broke out in the prefectures of Okayama, Ehime and Miyazaki, with evacuations ordered for more than 8,000 local residents.
In Okayama and Ehime, the fire spread across 300 hectares (740 acres) each.
On Monday, Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Forces were deployed to help extinguish fires, with 20 helicopters, mainly large transport Boeing CH-47 Chinook, involved in the operations.
“Responding to the challenges of a disaster that simultaneously spreads over a large area, it is necessary to effectively deploy the means of all self-defence forces,’’ Nakatani was quoted as saying.
He said this during a briefing by the Kyodo news agency.
An order to engage Joint Operations Command to firefighters operations was reportedly issued on Wednesday night.
On Monday, a Joint Operations Command was created in Japan’s Ministry of Defence to improve defence efficiency and flexibility and enhance cooperation with allies.
It would take charge of coordinating land, air and naval self-defence forces in both peacetime and contingency situations, as well as in repelling space and cyber threats.
In the event of a disaster, the defence minister will order the newly-established command, which will be headed by Gen. Kenichiro Nagumo, to manage the deployment of self-defence force units and operations.
The command will be required to daily monitor Japan’s defence situation, direct the dispatch of the army to deal with natural disasters, respond to ballistic missile launches.
It would also ensure security of Japanese citizens outside the country, respond to emergency situations, and coordinate interaction with the U.S. command.
In a related development, the death toll from the wildfires sweeping through south-eastern South Korea has risen to at least 22, with authorities fearing the numbers could continue to climb.
The official news agency Yonhap reported on Wednesday that at least 18 people had died in the south-east of the country since Tuesday afternoon.
Over the weekend, four first responders had lost their lives while battling the fires, with one person missing and two people sustaining serious injuries.
According to Yonhap, around 5,000 firefighters and more than 140 helicopters are currently in action to combat the fires, which have already destroyed some 17,000 hectares of forest.
Authorities have declared at least four counties in the region disaster zones.
The fires, which began on Friday in Sancheong County, about 250 kilometres south-east of Seoul, have caused significant destruction, with several historical sites destroyed.
Goun Temple in Uiseong, built in 681, was destroyed, Yonhap reported, adding that national treasures stored in the ancient temple had been relocated before its destruction.
The historic Hahoe village, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site in 2010, was also threatened by the flames.
Authorities had ordered evacuations to protect residents.
The fires were fuelled by dry winds and a prolonged drought, according to officials.
Wildfires are not uncommon in South Korea during dry spells.
In recent years, both average temperatures and extreme weather events had increased in the country, significantly increasing the risk and severity of fires.
Experts view the increase in wildfires as a sign of the ongoing effects of climate change.