Manila, March 3 -- A massive forest fire in Ofunato, northeastern Japan, has spread to around 1,800 hectares as it enters its fifth day on Sunday, with no clear timeline for containment.

Evacuation orders remain in place for 4,596 residents, with 1,222 people seeking refuge in school gymnasiums and other facilities as of 7 a.m.

Efforts to control the blaze continue, with 13 helicopters -including six large ones from the Self-Defense Forces- conducting aerial water drops.

However, local firefighters face significant challenges due to steep terrain, highly flammable Japanese cedar trees and strong winds, making extinguishing the fire extremely difficult.

The city government has established evacuation centers at 12 locations to accommoda...