Firefighters battling spreading forest fires on Mount Myogi

Forest fires have been reported to be spreading on Mount Myogi in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. The local fire department received a call from a climber who said white smoke was visible near a climbing trail shortly before 9 a.m.

local time on Monday. The fires continued to spread overnight in areas near the summit where there are trails but no houses. No injuries have been reported. The Gunma prefectural government requested on Monday night that Self-Defense Forces personnel be sent to help extinguish the fires. Helicopters from the SDF and the prefectural governments resumed firefighting operations at around 7 a.m. on Tuesday.