- Record rainfall causes rivers to overflow in Yamagata and Akita.
- One person dead, four missing; 200,000 people evacuated.
- Significant infrastructure damage: power outages and transport disruptions.
Record rainfall in northern Japan has led to widespread devastation, particularly in Yamagata and Akita prefectures. The heavy downpours have resulted in overflowing rivers, washed-away bridges, and submerged cars, leading to the evacuation of over 200,000 residents.
The extreme weather has also severely impacted infrastructure. Power outages have affected over 3,000 households, while more than 1,000 homes have been left without running water.
Record Rainfall in Japan: Lives Lost, Communities Displaced
Northern Japan is grappling with unprecedented rainfall that has caused significant damage and upheaval in the Yamagata and Akita prefectures. The torrential rain has led to overflowing rivers, resulting in the destruction of bridges and vehicles. In Yamagata, the highest 24-hour rainfall since records began in 1976 was recorded, with the Shinjo region experiencing 389 millimeters and Sakata 289 millimeters.
The human toll of this disaster is severe, with one confirmed death and four individuals reported missing. This includes a 60-year-old man lost to a landslide and an 86-year-old man last seen on a riverbank in Akita City. Additionally, three people, including two police officers, are missing in Yamagata. Authorities have launched extensive search and rescue operations to locate the missing individuals.
Infrastructure in the affected areas has suffered greatly. Approximately 3,060 households are without power, and 1,100 homes have no running water. The heavy rains have also forced the closure of motorways and suspended Shinkansen bullet train services, causing significant disruption to daily life and emergency response efforts.
Government officials and meteorologists continue to monitor the situation closely. The JMA initially issued its highest emergency alert for heavy rains in Sakata and Yuza, later downgrading the warning slightly but maintaining a strong advisory for the public to remain vigilant. Forecasts predict an additional 100 to 200 millimeters of rain per day over the next three days, heightening concerns of further flooding and landslides.
The ongoing severe weather in northern Japan underscores the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness and response measures to protect lives and minimize damage during such extreme events.
“Record heavy rain caused rivers to overflow, washing away bridges and cars and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people across parts of northern Japan.”
