Thousands cut off by floods and landslides in Japan
More than 5,000 people have been cut off by landslides as more heavy rain and floods are forecast in southwestern Japan. More than 5400 people have been cut off by landslides since late Saturday as mudslides and fallen trees have cut roads and water supplies in the region. Unprecedented rainfall has fallen since Wednesday.
Rainfall of up to 81.7 centimetres (32.2 inches) has been recorded in hardest-hit Aso, situated at the foot of a volcano, where at least 18 people were killed and four others were still missing. Heavy rainfall was also monitored in Kyoto, some 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of the affected areas in Kyushu, on Sunday, flooding more than 20 houses. About 65 centimeters fell on cities in Oita and Fukuoka prefectures. About 20 people were temporarily trapped in the city as stream broke a river bank following rainfall of nine centimetres per hour, but they were later rescued safely. Torrential downpours in 3 prefectures in Kyushu, southwestern Japan, have left 26 people dead and 6 unaccounted for.
Up to 181 landslides occurred in the Fukuoka prefecture, damaging 820 houses and washing away three bridges, Hiroaki Aoki, the prefecture’s spokesman, stated. The weather eased somewhat on Sunday, moving northward and bringing temporary relief. But the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of more heavy rain with thunder, landslides and floods on Kyushu.
View image galery at National Post
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