Torrential rains batter Japan, landslide warnings and evacuation orders released

Heavy rains pounded parts of eastern Japan on Friday, October 25, 2019 – the same areas affected by floods and strong winds produced by Typhoon "Hagibis" which made landfall on October 12. Evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands have been issued after rivers burst their banks. One fatality was reported, while two others are missing.

The victim died in a landslide in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Further landslides and floods are expected particularly in areas hit by swollen levees yet to be fixed after Hagibis struck central and eastern Japan earlier this month.

Hagibis killed at least 82 people and left 12 missing. 300 people were injured.

"It has been two weeks since the disaster caused by Typhoon 19 [Hagibis] and the rain has continued to fall intermittently so people to need to take the necessary caution," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated.

Following this, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) released a warning due to a low-pressure system and severe Typhoon "Bualoi."

The agency prompted the residents affected by Hagibis to be alert against probably landslides and floods, which could be triggered even by a little amount of rainfall.

A low-pressure system located off the Tokai region in central Japan, cold air, and moist air surrounding the typhoon will destabilize conditions in the atmosphere, specifically around the Pacific Ocean area of eastern Japan through the evening of October 25.

Strong rains and thunderstorms are expected to strike eastern Japan on October 25 evening, and the Pacific Ocean side on October 26 dawn.

The estimated amount of rain over the 24-hour period up to 18:00 LT on October 26 is forecast to reach 150 mm (6 inches) in the Tohoku region in northern Japan, and 100 mm (4 inches) in the Kanto region around Tokyo.

Image credit: JMA

As of 15:00 LT on October 25, Bualoi, the 21^st typhoon this year, was above the Pacific Ocean east of the Japanese archipelago and was seen heading northeast at 35 km/h (22 mph).

The storm has winds up to 126 km/h (78 mph) near its center and gusts to 180 km/h (111 mph).

Featured image credit: @JapanHappiness/Twitter