Wildfires in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, went into their sixth day of destruction on Tuesday and have scorched about 8 percent of Ofunato City.

Officials say another 500 hectares have burned since Monday morning, bringing the total razed area to approximately 2,600 hectares as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Roughly 2,000 people have been working on the ground and from the air to extinguish the flames. Self-Defense Force helicopters sprayed water as columns of smoke rose from a wide area of the forests.

Prefectural officials say the fires have spread to areas including Sanrikucho Ryori. Smoke was confirmed in the forests near Akasakicho Nagasaki, northeast of Ofunato bay.

The city has issued evacuation orders to districts in Sanrikucho and Akasakicho. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, 1,215 people had taken shelter at 12 facilities.

Arid conditions are expected to continue in the city through Tuesday. Snow is forecast from around midnight to the early hours of Wednesday and is expected to gradually turn to rain from around noon.

nhk