A fire has burned through a neighbourhood in south-western Japan and forced more than 170 people to evacuate.

The fire broke out during strong winds on Tuesday evening near a fishing port in the city of Oita and spread to a forest.

Oita is on the southern island of Kyushu, about 770 kilometres south-west of Tokyo.

One resident told Kyodo News Agency she quickly fled without many of her belongings because the fire "spread in the blink of an eye".

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Aerial footage from local broadcasters showed houses reduced to rubble and thick plumes of smoke rising from the hilly town, which overlooks a fishing harbour renowned for its premium Seki-brand mackerel.

A military firefighting helicopter was dispatched at the request of the Oita prefecture gover

See Full Page