A massive wildfire that spread across Japan’s Iwate region has finally been brought under control after 11 days of continuous efforts by firefighters and military personnel. Officials said it was the country’s second-largest wildfire in 30 years, burning about 1,600 hectares of mountainous forest—roughly five times the size of Central Park. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, at least eight buildings were damaged and two people sustained minor injuries, while thousands were evacuated for safety.

Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano stated that the fire was contained through extensive aerial and ground operations combined with heavy rainfall, though he warned that small pockets of fire might still remain. Kyodo News also described the blaze as Japan’s second-largest in three decades.

Experts noted that increasingly dry winters are heightening wildfire risks. Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by fossil fuel use is intensifying droughts, potentially leading to more severe wildfires in the future.