The city of Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, is making gradual progress in rebuilding lives two months after massive forest fires broke out.



The fires that started on February 26 killed one person and damaged 222 structures, including homes. The blazes burned about 3,370 hectares before being declared extinguished on April 7.



As of Friday April 25, 193 residents were sheltering at evacuation centers or elsewhere after their homes were damaged.



Those people began moving to public housing on Friday. Temporary housing units are expected to be completed at two locations in the city early next month.



But the approaching rainy season poses new challenges, since the wildfires diminished the water-holding capacity of soil in the burned areas.



Prefectural officials plan to take steps, such as piling large sandbags in areas deemed to be at high risk of landslides.