A man in his 70s has reportedly died after an out-of-control fire on Wednesday morning burned through a neighborhood in southwestern Japan and forced more than 170 people to evacuate.

According to reports, the fire started on Tuesday evening near a fishing port in the city of Oita on the southern main island of Kyushu, with the cause still under investigation.

It has burned 48,900 square metres – roughly the size of seven football pitches – forcing 175 residents in the district, some 770 km (478 miles) southwest of Tokyo, to evacuate to an emergency shelter, Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

Dozens of fire engines, two army helicopters and more than 200 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze, which was not fully under control nearly 20 hours after it started.

It may take a few days before the fire is completely extinguished, town mayor Shinya Adachi told reporters after he visited the devastated neighbourhood on Wednesday.

A firefighter told the Kyodo News Agency that the operation was hampered by narrow backstreets that fire engines were unable to pass through.

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

Around 260 homes remained without electricity on Wednesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted a statement on X pledging to “provide maximum support” and offering sympathy for those affected.

The number of buildings and size of the area engulfed in flames make it the largest urban fire in Japan since a 1976 fire in Sakata, excluding incidents caused by earthquakes.