(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to report on the forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture. I express my heartfelt sympathies to the people affected by the forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture. Earlier today, regarding this forest fire, I held a meeting with relevant senior officials of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) to share the latest information on situations on the ground and the activities of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), and to confirm our response policy toward extinguishing the fire as soon as possible. Specifically, today, February 28, the SDF is conducting firefighting operations with a total of seven aircraft. For the details, there are four large CH-47 transport helicopters, which conduct aerial firefighting operations, and three helicopters for video transmission and other purposes. By 3:00 p.m. today, we conducted watering a total of 153 times, using approximately 765 tons of water. Moreover, we have put two additional CH-47 helicopters on standby, and will conduct firefighting operations with nine aircrafts going forward. In addition, currently, a forest fire has also broken out in Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Today, the 28th, based on the disaster relief request issued by the Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, we plan to conduct firefighting operations with a total of three aircraft, including two UH-1 utility helicopter s from the GSDF Eastern Army Air Group and one CH-47 transport helicopter from the GSDF 12th Helicopter Unit. The MOD and the SDF are making every effort together with local governments and fire departments to prevent the spread of damage and to extinguish the fires as soon as possible. Firefighting operations in Yamanashi Prefecture have already begun.