The mayor of the western Japanese city of Imabari says wildfires have been brought under control and indicates they are not spreading.



Mayor Tokunaga Shigeki made the comment at a disaster response meeting on Thursday.



Wildfires that started on Sunday in the city burned an area of about 442 hectares as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.



A total of 21 structures, namely 11 homes and 10 warehouses, have been damaged.



The fires have become weaker in intensity but white smoke can still be seen rising from many places.



Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze as residents were looking at the smoke with concern.
Weather officials forecast a substantial amount of rain in the Touyo region, including Imabari City, through Friday for the first time since the wildfires broke out. It had already begun raining from late afternoon in an area near the site of wildfires.



Meanwhile, firefighting authorities in the western Japanese city of Okayama say wildfires in the city have been contained but are yet to be brought under control.



The wildfires that broke out on Sunday spread to burn about 565 hectares, including neighboring Tamano City, as of Thursday noon.



The flames damaged six structures, including homes and warehouses.



The largest scale firefighting operation since the outbreak of the fires was conducted on Thursday. Eleven Self-Defense Force helicopters and about 400 personnel were deployed in the operation from the air and on the ground.



Rain is forecast in southern Okayama Prefecture on Thursday night. Rainfall of up to 20 millimeters per hour is expected in some areas.



Firefighters intend to work through the night to prevent the blaze from spreading to residential and other areas.