Large fire burns more than 170 buildings in Japan; 1 missing

A large fire has destroyed more than 170 buildings in southwestern Japan, according to emergency response officials. Firefighters continue battling the blaze more than 12 hours after it began.

The fire is spreading through a residential area of Saganoseki, a coastal community in Oita City on Japan’s Kyushu island. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the first emergency call was received at about 5:40 p.m. local time.

The agency said more than 170 structures have been destroyed, and the burned area covers roughly 12 acres. A man in his 70s is unaccounted for, according to officials.

NHK reported that at least 175 people from 115 households were sheltering at a nearby community hall late Tuesday night. According to the public broadcaster, the fire has engulfed a wide area of homes and hillside vegetation and remained out of control as of early Wednesday.

Fire crews from across the region, along with support teams and disaster-response helicopters, have been deployed to the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.