Great Fire of Hakodate

The Great Fire of Hakodate (Japanese: 函館大火) is a fire that broke out in Hakodate, Hokkaido in Japan on March 21, 1934.[1][2] It is one of the worst city fires in Japan.

Burnt area by Fire

On March 21, 1934 a fire was started in a house located within the Sumiyoshi area, Hakodate.[3] Over two days, burning debris, fanned by strong winds, set fire to the surrounding areas including a local court, department store, school, and hospital. According to official documents, 2,166 people lost their lives, with 9,485 injured; 145,500 people made homeless and 11,055 buildings lost.[4] A serious fire destroyed around two-thirds of all buildings in Hakodate. This event also led to many residents leaving and subsequently depopulating the city.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "函館大火 | 函館市". www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  2. ^ 昭和9年函館大火の記録映像 1934年3月21日 - YouTube
  3. ^ "「函館市史」通説編3 5編2章7節2-10". 2014-04-08. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  4. ^ "Los Angeles Herald 30 August 1907 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  5. ^ Schellinger, Paul; Salkin, Robert, eds. (1996). International Dictionary of Historic Places, Volume 5: Asia and Oceania. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. pp. 317–320. ISBN 1-884964-04-4.
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