10-7-2023 (TOKYO) Tragic landslides in southwestern Japan have claimed one life and left three people missing, according to authorities on Monday. The country’s weather agency has issued a warning of the “heaviest rain ever” in the region, urging residents to take shelter.
In rural Fukuoka, a 77-year-old woman lost her life when a landslide engulfed her home overnight, as confirmed by the local fire department. Fortunately, her husband was found alive and taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, in Karatsu City, Saga prefecture, which neighbors Fukuoka, three individuals were reported missing following another landslide, local authorities revealed.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) emphasized the urgent need for people to find shelter due to the heavy downpours, which pose significant risks of flooding and further landslides across the Fukuoka and Oita regions.
Satoshi Sugimoto, from the JMA’s forecast division, addressed reporters, stating, “A special heavy rain warning has been issued for municipalities in Fukuoka Prefecture. This is the heaviest rain ever experienced in the region. There is a very high possibility that some kind of disaster has already occurred… The situation is such that lives are in danger and safety must be secured.”
Non-compulsory evacuation orders were issued for parts of Fukuoka, Oita, and neighboring prefectures, with designated shelters available for those seeking refuge from their homes.
The prime minister’s office established a task force to coordinate the response to the ongoing heavy rains.
As a result of the downpour, bullet train services between western Hiroshima and Fukuoka were temporarily halted, as reported by JR West, the train operator.
Japan is currently in its annual rainy season, which frequently brings torrential rains and increases the risk of flooding, landslides, and casualties. Scientists have highlighted that climate change is intensifying the danger of heavy rain in Japan and other regions due to the atmosphere’s ability to hold more water in a warmer climate.
In recent years, Japan has witnessed devastating incidents during the rainy season, including a destructive landslide in the central resort town of Atami in 2021, claiming the lives of 27 people. Additionally, in 2018, floods and landslides resulted in the loss of over 200 lives in western Japan.
