Torrential rain has brought disaster to southwestern Japan, claiming the lives of two people and leaving at least six others missing. The heavy rains, which began on the weekend, have triggered floods and mudslides, causing widespread destruction and disrupting daily life. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency warning, urging residents in vulnerable areas to take maximum caution, with over 1.7 million people advised to take shelter.
The warning was downgraded to a regular warning on Monday, but the damage has already been done. Houses have been destroyed, roads are closed, and trains have been disrupted. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency and prefectural officials have reported that two people have died, with six others missing. In Fukuoka prefecture, two people were buried beneath a mudslide, with one rescued alive and the other pronounced deceased. In Saga prefecture, three people whose houses were hit by a mudslide were missing, and footage on NHK television showed the devastating aftermath, with one destroyed house reduced to a roof sitting on the muddy ground.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (Via Fumio Kishida/Twitter)
The swollen Yamakuni River has caused further chaos, with footage showing muddy water gushing over a bridge in the town of Yabakei in Oita prefecture. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to respond to the disaster, stating that he will make a final decision on a plan of action after assessing the extent of the damage on Tuesday morning. “Either way, we will do our utmost to respond to the disaster by putting people’s lives first,” he said.
