Forest fire breaks in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

About 9 hectares of mountainous area have been burned as a forest fire broke out at Kiryuu city in the southwest of Gunma Prefecture in Japan, according to local media Wednesday. Local fire department received report from residents in the Kiryuu city when the fire broke out at about 11 p.m. local time Tuesday, according to Japan's broadcaster NHK. A resident building, which is about 300 meters from the fire site, has not been affected, said the report. Fire control helicopters from nearing Saitama and Tochigi prefectures have taken part in disaster relief works and the fire still continues as of 10 a.m. Wednesday. Dry air warnings have been issued on April 7 over southern Gunma prefecture, including Kiryuu city. There was no injury report as of now.