A powerful rainstorm has struck Japan’s Ishikawa region, resulting in one death and seven missing persons, according to official reports. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest alert level, warning of life-threatening conditions.
Torrential rains, described as unprecedented by JMA forecaster Sugimoto Satoshi, have caused widespread flooding and landslides in the coastal region still recovering from a deadly January earthquake. Over 40,000 residents across four cities have been ordered to evacuate due to burst riverbanks.
Rescue teams are battling to reach affected areas, with landslides blocking access to some sites. Four workers repairing roads damaged by the earthquake are among those unaccounted for. Two individuals were swept away by strong river currents.
Evacuation orders have been issued for 44,000 residents in Ishikawa prefecture, with an additional 16,000 residents in Niigata and Yamagata prefectures also advised to leave.
Footage shows entire streets submerged under water, with 6,000 households left without power and an unknown number without running water. Two people have been seriously injured.
