One Dead, 6 Missing As Torrential Rain Causes Floodings in Southwest Japan

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency warning for Fukuoka and Oita prefectures in the southern part of Kyushu island on Monday. The agency highlighted that the region was facing the "heaviest rain ever experienced" and urged residents in riverside and hillside areas to exercise utmost caution, according to Al Jazeera.

More than 420,000 people in Fukuoka and Oita were under the highest evacuation level on Japan's scale, with authorities informing them, "Your life is in danger, you need to take action immediately." Additionally, over 1.7 million residents in vulnerable areas were advised to seek shelter.

While Japan has a five-level evacuation order, individuals cannot be compelled to leave their homes.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that at least six people were missing due to the severe weather conditions.

The persistent rainfall since the weekend in the regions of Kyushu and Chugoku has caused mudslides and flooding, leading to road closures, disruptions in train services, and water supply disruptions in some areas.

According to the Kyodo news agency, an elderly couple in the town of Soeda, Fukuoka prefecture, were buried under a mudslide. Although one person was rescued alive, the 77-year-old woman was later confirmed dead.

Rescue workers in the city of Karatsu, Saga prefecture, were searching for three individuals whose houses were hit by a mudslide.

Elsewhere in the region, three other people were reported missing.

Footage broadcasted on NHK television revealed muddy water from the swollen Yamakuni River surging over a bridge in the town of Yabakei, Oita prefecture.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office has established a task force to coordinate a response to the ongoing rain crisis.

Government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno informed reporters, "We have received reports that several rivers have flooded... and that landslides have occurred in various parts of the country. The government is doing its best to assess the extent of the damage and prioritize the safety of the people."

The heavy downpour has caused significant travel disruptions, including the temporary suspension of bullet train services between western Hiroshima and Fukuoka, according to JR West, the operator of the train services.

Matsuno also mentioned that thousands of homes across western Japan have lost power due to the severe weather conditions.

Japan is currently in its annual rainy season, which often brings about heavy downpours, leading to floods, landslides, and casualties.

Scientists have pointed out that climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan and other regions, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more water.

The weather agency noted that the region had already experienced more than a week of continuous rainfall. Yoshiyuki Toyoguchi, a land ministry official responsible for rivers, stated, "The area is very wet due to intermittent rainfall for over a week. Even with a little rain, river levels tend to rise quickly, which will increase the risk of flooding."

Landslides pose a particular threat in Japan during periods of heavy rain, as many homes are constructed on plains at the foot of hillsides in the mountainous country.

In 2021, heavy rain triggered a devastating landslide in the central resort town of Atami, claiming the lives of 27 people. Similarly, in 2018, floods and landslides caused the death of over 200 individuals in western Japan during the rainy season.