Heavy Rain in Japan Claims One Life, Many Others Reported Missing

Japan’s northcentral Noto region experienced heavy rainfall on Saturday, leading to devastating landslides and flooding that resulted in one confirmed death and several individuals reported missing.

The floods caused rivers to swell and overflow, inundating homes and stranding residents in an area still recovering from the deadly earthquake that struck on January 1.

The Japan Meteorological Agency responded by issuing the highest level of heavy rain alerts for various cities within Ishikawa prefecture. This includes the coastal cities of Suzu and Wajima, which were severely impacted.

In Suzu, local officials confirmed that one person had died and another was missing after being swept away by the floodwaters. Additionally, another individual was reported missing in the nearby Noto town.

In Wajima, recovery efforts were complicated as four construction workers went missing following a landslide at a site where they were repairing a tunnel damaged by the earlier earthquake in January. A separate report indicated that one more individual was missing due to flooding at another location in the city.

Footage from NHK revealed the aftermath of a landslide in a coastal area of Wajima, highlighting a wooden house that had been torn from its foundation and tilted precariously. Although muddy water continued to flow from the hills, there were no immediate reports of injuries from this site.

In Noto town, two individuals suffered serious injuries when a landslide struck as they visited their earthquake-damaged home.

As of Saturday afternoon, at least 16 rivers in Ishikawa had breached their banks, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Authorities urged residents to stay alert for possible landslides and structural damage.

By late afternoon, approximately 1,350 residents had sought refuge in designated community centers, school gymnasiums, and other public facilities, according to local officials.

The weather forecast predicts that the region could receive up to 20 centimeters (approximately 7.8 inches) of additional rainfall over the next 24 hours, as torrential rainbands continue to affect the Hokuriku region.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concern, stating, “Heavy rain is hitting the region that had been badly damaged by the Noto earthquake, and I believe many people are feeling very uneasy.” He emphasized that the government’s priority would be to focus on search and rescue operations while urging residents to pay close attention to weather updates and evacuation instructions.

Hayashi also mentioned the deployment of Self Defense Force troops to Ishikawa to assist with rescue efforts.

In addition, many roads were blocked due to flooding, with Hokuriku Electric Power Co. reporting that about 6,500 homes were left without electricity. Traffic signals in the affected areas were also non-operational, further complicating the situation. Furthermore, many homes experienced disruptions in their water supply.

Heavy rainfall was also reported in nearby northern prefectures, such as Niigata and Yamagata, raising concerns about potential flooding and further damages.

This disaster follows a series of powerful earthquakes in January that had already caused significant damage to homes, triggered fires, instigated tsunami alerts, and left tens of thousands without power as residents were advised to seek higher ground.