Six people have died and ten others are missing following record rainfall that triggered floods and landslides in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture. The cities of Wajima and Suzu, which are still recovering from a devastating earthquake on January 1, have been particularly hard hit by the heavy rains that began on Saturday and are expected to continue until noon on Monday.
On Sunday, these cities experienced rainfall amounts that were double their typical September averages, leading to dozens of rivers overflowing and cutting off roads, isolating over 100 communities. Local reports indicate that two of the deceased were found near a landslide-affected tunnel in Wajima; one victim was a construction worker involved in road repairs. The fatalities also included two elderly men and an elderly woman.
Japan’s meteorological agency issued its highest “life-threatening” alert for Ishikawa on Saturday, later downgrading it to a standard warning on Sunday. However, authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as heavy rainfall is anticipated to persist.
The floodwaters have inundated temporary housing constructed for those displaced by the January earthquake. NHK footage showed streets in Wajima completely submerged. This region is still recovering from the powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake that claimed at least 236 lives, destroyed buildings, and sparked a significant fire.
As of Monday, around 4,000 households were without power, according to Hokuriku Electric Power Company. More than 40,000 residents across four cities in Ishikawa, including Wajima, Suzu, and Noto, were evacuated over the weekend. Additionally, another 16,000 residents in the neighboring Niigata and Yamagata prefectures have also been advised to evacuate.
