Heavy rain battered Japan’s north-central Noto region on Saturday, triggering landslides and causing rivers to overflow. The deluge flooded homes and stranded residents in an area still recovering from a deadly earthquake earlier this year.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest level of heavy rain alert across several cities in Ishikawa Prefecture, including the worst-hit city of Wajima. Authorities reported that one person was missing.
At least 12 rivers in Ishikawa breached their banks as of late Saturday morning, according to the Land and Infrastructure Ministry. Residents were urged to exercise maximum caution against possible mudslides and building damage.
The JMA predicted up to 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) of rainfall in the region within the next 24 hours through Sunday noon, due to rainbands causing torrential downpours over the Hokuriku region.
“Heavy rain is hitting the region that had been badly damaged by the Noto earthquake, and I believe many people are feeling very uneasy,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Hayashi emphasized that the government “puts people’s lives first” and that its priority was search and rescue operations. He called on residents to pay close attention to the latest weather and evacuation advisories and to take precautions early. He added that Self Defense Force troops had been dispatched to Ishikawa to join rescue efforts.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries from the heavy rain. However, many homes were flooded, and some residents in two districts in Wajima have been stranded following landslides, according to the prefecture. A number of roads flooded by muddy water were also blocked. Hokuriku Electric Power Co. reported that about 6,500 homes were without power.
Heavy rain also fell in the nearby northern prefectures of Niigata and Yamagata, threatening flooding and other damages, officials said.
Earlier this year, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the region on January 1, killing more than 370 people and damaging roads and other key infrastructure. Its aftermath still affects the local industry, economy, and daily lives.
Reference(s):
Heavy rain pounds parts of Japan still recovering from deadly quake
cgtn.com
