Firefighters and the Japan Coast Guard have been plagued with a growing number of blazes breaking out among piles of mixed scrap in harbors and on board ships, with the most recent one occurring in Mikawa port in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture.
Exports of items such as car batteries, discarded home electrical appliances and residual oil, which are believed to be the reason for the fires, is supposed to be regulated by law.
Putting out this kind of fire is both arduous and time-consuming, and affects transport facilities as well.