TOKYO: Heavy rainfall in several parts of Japan has resulted in one fatality, three individuals reported missing, and dozens injured, according to authorities on Saturday. The inclement weather is attributed to the remnants of former Typhoon Mawar, which has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. Evacuation warnings have been issued to thousands of residents in affected areas.
In the central Aichi region’s Toyohashi, where the highest-level evacuation alert was issued on Friday, a rescue team discovered a submerged car with a man in his 60s inside. Sadly, he was later pronounced dead, as confirmed by a city official speaking to AFP.
In the western Wakayama region, where multiple rivers have overflowed, authorities have resumed the search for a man and a woman who went missing in the area. Additionally, rescue workers are searching for a resident in central Hamamatsu city who could not be reached after his house was engulfed by a landslide.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported six people with serious injuries and 29 with minor injuries. In central and western Japan, many evacuation orders, although non-compulsory, were being downgraded as the rainfall subsided. Earlier flood warnings issued in areas near Tokyo were lifted.
Several cities, including Toyohashi in Aichi and Koshigaya near Tokyo, reportedly experienced the highest 24-hour rainfall on record. The Japan Meteorological Agency has urged residents to remain vigilant due to the risk of landslides, overflowing rivers, and flooding in low-lying areas.
Power Outages in Japan After Heavy Rainfall
Approximately 4,000 households in regions near Tokyo experienced power outages early Saturday, but the Tokyo Electric Power Company resolved the majority of the issues within a few hours. Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and Nagoya were temporarily suspended but resumed operations around noon, as announced by Japan Railway.
Scientists have noted that climate change is increasing the likelihood of heavy rainfall in Japan and other regions, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more water. In 2021, heavy rain triggered a devastating landslide in the central resort town of Atami, claiming the lives of 27 people. Similarly, in 2018, floods and landslides during Japan’s annual rainy season resulted in the deaths of over 200 individuals in western parts of the country.
Earlier this week, Typhoon Mawar, before being downgraded, passed just north of the Pacific island of Guam, causing uprooted trees and temporary power outages for tens of thousands of homes.
