大分市佐賀関で火災が発生。強風に煽られ延焼し、住宅を焼き尽くました。
タイトル：Ohita inferno
※inferno 大火、烈火、灼熱地獄
A wind-fueled fire rages through a residential area in the Saganoseki district of Oita city on Nov. 18.
➾spread through／rip through／race through／tear through
The burned area spanned 48,900 square meters. Fire also spread to about 10 nearby mountainous areas and an uninhabited island about 1.4 kilometers from the scene.
瓦礫と化し煙が上る佐賀関は、ブランド魚の「関サバ」「関アジ」で知られています。
Aerial footage showed houses reduced to rubble and thick plumes of smoke rising from the hilly Saganoseki district of Oita city, which overlooks a fishing harbor renowned for its premium Seki-brand mackerel.
※be reduced to rubble 〔破壊されて〕がれきになる
※plume 羽毛状のもの
この火事で亡くなった男性は、「関さば・あじ」の一本釣り漁 pole-and-line fishingの漁師さんでした。
※poleは「釣り竿」でlineは「釣り糸」
消防隊が駆けつけて消火にあたりました。
White smoke was rising, and local fire brigade members were rushing to douse the blaze.
※brigade軍隊式に編成した団体、組、隊 ※消防士 firefighter
※douse水を浴びせる ➾extinguish消火する
※blaze明るく燃える比較的大きな炎 ≧flame
半島の先端、木造住宅の密集という条件に加え、火災発生時には強風注意報が発令されており、被害が拡大したとされます。
The site of the fire is on a slope near the edge of the Saganoseki Peninsula.
A gale advisory was in effect for marine areas, including Saganoseki and central Oita Prefecture, from the morning of Nov. 17 until early on Nov. 19.
The area is a fishing town facing the sea and has densely packed wooden houses. A strong wind advisory was issued for the city when the fire started. The narrow roads in the vicinity are believed to have prevented emergency vehicles from entering the area, hindering firefighting efforts.
※gale advisory / strong wind advisory 強風注意報
※hinder妨げる
飛び火のために延焼が早く、避難した住民は『瞬く間に広がった』『なすすべがなかった』と語っています。
The strong winds accelerated the spread of the blaze by carrying sparks and flames to nearby areas.
※spark飛び火 辞書ではflying sparks、leaping flames.
One resident told media that she quickly fled without many of her belongings because the fire "spread in the blink of an eye.” “There's nothing we can do."
その後、焼失した住宅（182棟）のうち70棟は「空き家」だったと判明しました。空き家が「個人の資産」ではなく「地域全体の災害リスク」になりえることを示す象徴的な出来事だという指摘もありました。
The large number of vacant houses could also have contributed to the extensive damage. This is because poorly maintained unoccupied houses, including plants and trees in the gardens, are highly susceptible to catching fire, causing flames to spread rapidly to surrounding areas.
※vacant 空いている、使用されてない ➾empty house➾ unoccupied house
※contribute to ～の一因となる
※susceptible to 影響を受けやすい
