Landslides And Heavy Rain in Japan
Heavy rain continues to deluge portions of Japan, causing severe flooding and evacuations due to swollen rivers and flooded fields.
Heavy rain poured in sections of southern Honshu from Wednesday to Thursday, with about 10 inches (250 mm) falling in and around Hiroshima. According to NHK, half of Hiroshima’s typical July rainfall fell in just six hours early Thursday. As streets filled with water as a result of the rain, flooding occurred throughout the city.
During the 24-hour period ending Thursday evening, Shikano, near Honshu’s southwest coast, received 6.30 inches (160) mm of rain.
Landslides And Heavy Rain Disaster Risk
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued emergency warnings for flooding and mudslides over Shimane, Tottori, and Okayama prefectures on Thursday due to the heavy rain. Flooding and landslide warnings were issued for the majority of southern Honshu, from Hiroshima to Fukui prefectures. According to WNI, a total of 17.4 inches (442mm) of rain fell in Tottori City during the course of 72 hours on Thursday.
According to The Japan Times, about 330,000 people were told to evacuate across Shimane and Tottori prefectures.
COVID-19 immunizations for roughly 200 senior citizens were also canceled due to the excessive rain and flooding.
“The meiyu front, or the leading edge of the east Asia monsoon, has stopped across Japan and is moving slowly north,” Meteorologist stated.
“On Friday, there could be another round of severe rain across southern Japan,” metrologist said. “As the monsoon’s leading-edge moves northward, the probability of widespread heavy rain should diminish beginning this weekend, though further storms remain probable.”
This rain might affect much of southern Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku over the weekend.
These bouts of severe rain, flooding, and mudslides follow a big and catastrophic mudslide in Atami, a major vacation city in southeastern Japan, on July 3. According to Jiji Press, at least nine people have died as a result of the mudslide, with another 22 still missing.
Heavy rain has also fallen across central Honshu, especially in Tokyo, where the rescheduled Olympic Games will take place from July 23 to August 8. Tokyo has already received 8.73 inches (223 mm) of rain this month, which is higher than the normal for July.
“The east Asia monsoon carries moisture into the region, and much of Japan, including Tokyo, suffers rounds of rain and strong thunderstorms during the summer months,” Nicholls added. “It wouldn’t surprise me if there were multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms throughout the Olympic Games.”
reference – Accuweather,NOAA
recentclimate – Landslides And Heavy Rain Persists Alert To Japan