Heavy Rain Sparks Deadly Landslides, Floods in Japan

Heavy Rain Sparks Deadly Landslides, Floods in Japan

Heavy rain triggered deadly landslides and flooding in northern Japan, leaving one person dead and several others missing, authorities reported on Saturday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest alert for heavy rain across multiple cities in Ishikawa prefecture, including Suzu and Wajima on the northern coast of the Noto Peninsula.

In Suzu, one person died, and another was reported missing after being swept into floodwaters. Another individual went missing in the nearby town of Noto, according to prefecture officials.

Wajima faced severe impacts, with four people missing following a landslide at a construction site where 60 workers were repairing a tunnel damaged by an earthquake in January. One additional person went missing due to floods in another part of the city, NHK reported. NHK footage showed a wooden house in Wajima tilted and torn apart, likely hit by a landslide from a steep hill with muddy water still flowing.

In Noto town, two individuals sustained serious injuries after being struck by a landslide while visiting their quake-damaged home.

According to the Land and Infrastructure Ministry, at least 12 rivers in Ishikawa had breached their banks by late Saturday morning. Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant against possible mudslides and building damage.

The JMA predicts up to 20 cm of additional rainfall in the region within the next 24 hours, potentially worsening conditions.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concern, stating, “Heavy rain is hitting the region that had been badly damaged by the Noto earthquake, and I believe many people are feeling very uneasy.” He emphasized that the government prioritized search and rescue operations, with Self-Defence Force troops dispatched to Ishikawa to assist in rescue efforts.

No injuries have been reported from the heavy rain so far, but many homes were flooded, and some residents in two districts of Wajima have been stranded due to landslides. Additionally, about 6,500 homes remain without power, as reported by Hokuriku Electric Power Company.

Heavy rainfall has also affected nearby northern prefectures, Niigata and Yamagata, threatening additional flooding and damage. The recent calamities follow a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on January 1, claiming over 370 lives and damaging critical infrastructure.