Ehime: The massive wildfires that erupted on Sunday in the prefectures of Ehime and Okayama in western Japan have destroyed over 900 hectares of land.

According to Philippines News Agency, as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the fire in Imabari, Ehime, had scorched 417 hectares, while the blaze in Okayama City swept through approximately 559 hectares. In response to the extensive damage, the Ehime prefectural government declared that Imabari and the neighboring city of Saijo are now eligible for disaster relief aid.

Evacuation orders were issued for 7,494 residents from 3,848 households in Imabari. In Okayama and the nearby city of Tamano, 2,133 residents from 1,091 households were evacuated to ensure safety from the advancing flames. Mount Kasamatsu in Ehime, one of the affected areas, last experienced a wildfire in 2008, highlighting the severity of the current situation.

A local resident in his 70s remarked on the scale of the destruction, stating, "The area destroyed this time is larger than 17 years ago."