24 Aug
Wildfires in the US state of California continue to rage amid a heat wave and dry weather, killing at least five people and forcing nearly 120,000 to evacuate.
Local media say the fires that started to break out in late July have so far burned about 4,000 square kilometers, nearly twice the area of Tokyo.
Many of the fires were reportedly ignited by lightning strikes.
Local authorities on Sunday allowed evacuees to return to their homes for just one hour to fetch personal belongings.
One resident said the fires are scary, and having to think about what to take with them is also scary.
Weather officials are forecasting more lightning strikes from dry thunderstorms from Monday onwards, raising concerns that the wildfires will continue to spread.
More than 13,000 firefighters and others are trying to contain the blazes.
Fire authorities in California are calling on Canada and Australia as well as other US states to help them battle the fires.
nhk
