Pakistan, April 25 -- Hundreds of firefighters, supported by Japan Self-Defence Forces, are battling fast-spreading wildfires in the mountainous forests of the Iwate region in northern Japan, as authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 3,200 residents.

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According to local government officials, the fires have burned approximately 700 hectares (around 1,730 acres) of land over the past three days since they first broke out. The blazes have mainly affected rugged, forested terrain near the town of Otsuchi, making firefighting efforts difficult and slowing containment operations.

Thick smoke was seen rising above valleys near the town on Saturday morning, with repo...