Deadly Deluge: Central Japan Reels as Floods and Landslides Claim 7 Lives
- AFP reports that on Monday, September 23, 2024, heavy flooding and mudslides in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, in central Japan, caused houses to be washed away and damaged,...
- A river on the Noto Peninsula, an area still affected by the powerful January earthquake, overflowed its banks over the weekend, turning into muddy water that flooded roads...
- Police and rescue workers from all over Japan, along with local residents, are working together to find many missing people, including a 14-year-old girl whose status is not...
Heavy Flooding and Mudslides in Central Japan Claim Lives
AFP reports that on Monday, September 23, 2024, heavy flooding and mudslides in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, in central Japan, caused houses to be washed away and damaged, with some parts submerged under the mud, resulting in at least 7 deaths.
A river on the Noto Peninsula, an area still affected by the powerful January earthquake, overflowed its banks over the weekend, turning into muddy water that flooded roads and villages in remote areas.
Police and rescue workers from all over Japan, along with local residents, are working together to find many missing people, including a 14-year-old girl whose status is not yet known.
Heavy rain has been pounding the area since Saturday, with over 540 millimeters (21 inches) of rain measured in Wajima over the past 72 hours, considered the longest continuous amount of heavy rain since comparative data has been available.
The catastrophic flooding comes as the area recovers from a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on New Year’s Day, which caused buildings to collapse, triggered tsunamis, and sparked large fires, killing at least 374 people.
As of Monday afternoon, approximately 3,700 homes were still without power, while more than 100 areas in the region have been cut off due to road closures caused by landslides.
The city of Wajima was one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake and was submerged in pools of dirty water, with branches piled up over the road.
Evacuation orders were issued over the weekend, but many residents had to return to the area due to concerns for their homes and property.
The Japan Meteorological Agency’s weather forecast agency issued a warning on Saturday, predicting unprecedented levels of heavy rain in areas under emergency warnings and advising people to prioritize their own welfare.
Scientists say climate change caused by human activity is intensifying the risks posed by heavy rain, as a warmer atmosphere holds more water.
Related Topics:
- Floods
- Landslides
- Central Japan
- Lives Lost
- People Affected