Flooding and landslides impact central Japan following heavy rains

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Central Japan has experienced severe flooding and landslides, resulting in at least one confirmed death and eleven individuals reported missing. The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture has been particularly affected, where rescue teams have been deployed to assist in recovery efforts. This region had already faced significant challenges due to a massive earthquake earlier this year.

The heavy rainfall began on Saturday and continued into Sunday, with over 540 millimeters recorded in Wajima, a city on the northern coast of the peninsula. As the rains recede, they have left behind a landscape of destruction, including uprooted trees and blocked roads. Thousands of homes remain without power, and Hokuriku Electric Power Co. reported that more than 5,000 residences were still affected as of Sunday. Traffic lights were also out, and many areas experienced water shortages.

In response to the unfolding situation, municipal authorities in Ishikawa ordered evacuations for approximately 110,000 residents in cities like Wajima and Suzu, as well as in the town of Noto. Additional evacuation orders were issued for 17,300 residents in neighboring Niigata and Yamagata prefectures. The flooding has also impacted temporary shelters established for those displaced by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake on January 1, which had already caused extensive damage to the region.