Tens of thousands of people across four cities in central Japan have been ordered to evacuate as heavy rains threaten to trigger major flooding. Authorities have directed about 18,000 residents in Wajima and 12,000 in Suzu to seek shelter in Ishikawa prefecture on Honshu Island.
Additionally, according to reports from AFP, 16,000 more people in Niigata and Yamagata prefectures were urged to evacuate.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued its highest alert level, a heavy rain emergency, for parts of the region. Footage aired by Japanese broadcaster NHK shows streets in Wajima submerged under water, with floodwaters reaching the wheels and bumpers of parked vehicles.
Local authorities have reported that 12 regional rivers have breached their banks. According to AFP, three rivers have overflowed in Ishikawa prefecture, affecting nearby communities.
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Meanwhile, at least one home has been hit by a landslide, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed, though further details remain scarce.
This region, including Wajima and Suzu on the Noto Peninsula, was still recovering from a devastating earthquake on New Year’s Day that claimed 236 lives. The magnitude 7.5 quake had caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings, ripping roads apart, and sparking a major fire.
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Japan has experienced increasingly severe weather patterns in recent years, with unprecedented rainfall often leading to floods and landslides, sometimes resulting in casualties.