Authorities said the fires had spread across 1,373 hectares (3,393 acres) by early Sunday, a 7% increase from the previous day, with dry weather and strong winds hampering containment efforts.The blazes are advancing toward neighborhoods in Otsuchi, a Pacific coastal town still marked by the devastation of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which killed nearly a tenth of its population.

Evacuation orders remain in place for 1,541 households, affecting 3,233 residents roughly one-third of the town’s population.“Although the Self-Defense Forces are fighting the fires from the sky with helicopters, the dry weather and winds are helping the fires expand,” Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano told a press conference.

Military helicopters continued aerial water drops over forested mountain areas on Sunday as emergency crews worked to prevent the flames from reaching homes and critical infrastructure.Residents watching the smoke spread expressed concern over the scale of possible destruction.

“A fire burns everything down. With a tsunami, you might have something left after the destruction,” said 74-year-old Yoshinori Komatsu as he watched helicopters dump water over the hills in the distance.

So far, only one minor injury has been reported a person who fell at an evacuation center, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.The Japan Meteorological Agency said no rainfall is expected in the region on Sunday or Monday, though a brief shower is forecast for Tuesday, offering limited hope for natural relief.

Officials said the cause of the fires remains under investigation.Japan has faced increasing wildfire risks in recent years, particularly during dry seasonal periods, with mountainous terrain and strong coastal winds often complicating firefighting operations.

The current fires represent one of the most serious wildfire threats to northern Japan this year, placing renewed pressure on local emergency services and evacuation systems.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and winds of up to 130 km/h (80 mph), raising concerns about flooding and damage in the country’s most populous urban area. Weather officials said the system is likely to make its closest approach on Sunday.

Cyclone Vaianu is then forecast to track west of the Chatham Islands on Monday, though its impact could still be felt across parts of the region.

Emergency authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to follow evacuation instructions and prepare for severe weather conditions as the storm system intensifies.

The mass movement began after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting sustained Israeli air attacks and a ground offensive. Villages across southern and eastern Lebanon, along with Beirut’s southern suburbs, have been largely emptied, pushing civilians into the capital in numbers equivalent to roughly one-fifth of the country’s population, according to government estimates.

Beirut’s infrastructure has come under severe strain as displaced families crowd into available spaces, including schools converted into shelters, mosques, storefronts and public parks. A sprawling tent settlement has emerged along the city’s waterfront, while others have set up makeshift shelters along the coastal corniche and near Horsh Beirut park.

Residents described deteriorating living conditions, with many lacking access to basic sanitation, electricity and adequate shelter. Some families have resorted to sleeping in vehicles or under tarpaulins, while heavy rains have flooded encampments, exacerbating health risks.

The United Nations refugee agency said the scale and speed of the displacement are without precedent in Lebanon’s recent history. Spokesperson Dalal Harb noted that the figure of one million displaced likely understates the true number, as many have not formally registered with authorities.

Government efforts to accommodate those fleeing have included converting hundreds of public buildings into shelters and establishing temporary facilities in large venues such as sports stadiums. Aid groups have also repurposed damaged infrastructure, including a slaughterhouse affected by the 2020 Beirut port explosion, to house displaced populations.

Despite these measures, capacity remains insufficient, forcing large numbers to remain in informal settlements. Many displaced families have opted to stay in Beirut rather than relocate to northern areas where space may be more available, citing concerns over losing proximity to their homes and communities.

Urban specialists warn that the visible scale of displacement is reshaping the city’s social and physical landscape, creating new pressures on public services and heightening tensions among residents.

The influx has also revived concerns over Lebanon’s fragile sectarian balance, with the displacement of large numbers of Shiite residents from southern regions and Beirut’s suburbs raising fears of demographic shifts in the capital.

Humanitarian agencies say needs are escalating rapidly as the conflict shows no sign of abating. Israeli forces have signaled the possibility of advancing further into Lebanese territory, raising the prospect of additional displacement.

Aid officials warned that conditions for those already displaced could deteriorate further without sustained assistance and a de-escalation in hostilities.