Japanese authorities ordered tens of thousands to evacuate the Ishikawa region on Saturday following severe flooding and landslides caused by “unprecedented” rainfall. By 11:00 AM local time (0200 GMT), a dozen rivers in the west coast region had overflowed, according to land ministry official Masaru Kojima. Public broadcaster NHK reported that three people were missing in Ishikawa, with two swept away by powerful river currents. In the northern city of Wajima, another person was reported missing, with authorities working to confirm the status of a second individual.
Numerous buildings were flooded, and landslides blocked some roads, the Ishikawa government said. Around 44,700 residents in Wajima, Suzu, and Noto were ordered to evacuate. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest-level warning for Ishikawa, alerting the public to a “life-threatening situation” as heavy rain continued to fall at unprecedented levels. JMA forecaster Satoshi Sugimoto urged residents to “secure your safety immediately.”
Wajima recorded over 120 millimeters (4.7 inches) of rain per hour, the heaviest since records began in 1929. Footage from NHK showed streets in Wajima completely submerged. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed the government to prioritize saving lives, according to government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi. Rescue operations were underway with the assistance of Self-Defense Forces personnel.
At least one house was struck by a landslide, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and more than 16,000 residents in Niigata and Yamagata were also ordered to evacuate. The region faced widespread power outages, with 6,600 households affected and some communication services disrupted. The area, which had recently suffered from a magnitude-7.5 earthquake, is still recovering from the extensive damage caused.
In recent years, parts of Japan have experienced unusually heavy rainfall, leading to floods and landslides. Scientists attribute this to climate change, which is increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture.
