TOKYO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Steady rainfall on Wednesday has helped contain the spread of a week-long wildfire in Ofunato City of Japan's Iwate Prefecture, local media reported.

The wildfire, which began on Feb. 26, has affected wide areas, burning approximately 2,900 hectares, or 9 percent of the city's total area, national broadcaster NHK reported.

For the first time since the fire began, steady rainfall was recorded on Wednesday, with 17 mm measured by 5 p.m. local time. The city reported that no further spread of the fire was confirmed, attributing this to the rain.

A recent survey confirmed damage to 78 buildings, including houses, vacant properties, and workspaces, adjusting the previous estimate of at least 84 structures, according to the NHK.

Officials warned that the number of affected structures may increase as further surveys are conducted.

Rain is expected to continue through Thursday, with up to 20 mm of additional rainfall predicted over the next 24 hours for southern coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture, including Ofunato. Enditem

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