'Never seen before' rains lash southern Japan
The deluge follows a period of punishing heat in many parts of Japan, with a national record temperature of 41.8°C.
Kagoshima "is seeing heavy rains that it has never experienced before", an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) told a press conference.
"Lives are at risk ... We ask that you secure your safety by moving to buildings located even slightly away from streams or cliffs, or to buildings less prone to flooding," he said, noting that dangerous conditions may already exist in affected areas.
The JMA official also urged residents to evacuate without waiting for orders from municipalities.
A land ministry official warned in the same press conference about the risks of rivers bursting their banks.
More than 490mm of rain fell over 24 hours through 4.40am (3.40am, Singapore time) in one area of Kagoshima - its largest recorded downpour, according to Kyodo News.
Kirishima, a city in Kagoshima, told residents to evacuate or take alternative measures following the JMA's special warning - the highest on its five-scale system.
"Rivers are swelling, posing a risk of flooding, or flooding may have already occurred over the levees," the city said on its website.
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Straits Times
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'Never seen before' rains lash southern Japan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TOKYO – Record rainfall hit parts of southern Japan on Aug 8, as authorities urged residents to evacuate and warned of possible landslides. The deluge follows a period of punishing heat in many parts of the country , with a national record temperature of 41.8 deg C set this week. Television footage showed brown, fast-flowing water overflowing its banks to inundate homes in the Kagoshima region. Local media reported that Kirishima city, Kagoshima, saw a record rainfall of 500mm in the 24 hours through 5am, twice the average for the entire month of August. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the region was 'seeing heavy rains that it has never experienced before' but it downgraded its highest alert for heavy rain as the downpour eased. 'Even though the warning has been downgraded, please remain vigilant and ensure your safety,' JMA official Shuichi Tachihara said at a press conference. 'Even a small amount of rain could increase the risk of disaster. Please continue to be on high alert for landslides and river flooding,' he added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP 2025: No ticket, no problem – here are some spots to soak up National Day vibes Business Who loses the most from Trump's tariffs? Who wins? World Israeli army will 'take control' of Gaza City: PM's office World Intel CEO Tan Lip-Bu says has board support as Trump calls for resignation Singapore Ex-lawyer convicted over charges for cheating company director of more than $8 million Singapore Four Certis officers charged after allegedly receiving over $9,700 in bribes from man Singapore Chief Justice names law graduate who wanted anonymity after being denied Bar admission Life One-Michelin-starred Restaurant Euphoria shut on Aug 2, its local chef to move into F&B consultancy More than 122,000 residents in Kirishima were urged to evacuate while the warning was lifted for people in the neighbouring Miyazaki region. More than half a million people had earlier been encouraged to leave their homes. Two people were rescued from a collapsed house after a landslide in Aira, another city in Kagoshima, a fire department official told AFP. A woman in her 30s, also believed to be a resident of the house, is missing. Domestic flights at Kagoshima Airport were cancelled. AFP
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
‘Never seen before' rains lash southern Japan
JAPAN'S weather agency issued a special heavy rain alert for the southern region of Kagoshima on Friday, warning 'lives are at risk'. The deluge follows a period of punishing heat in many parts of Japan, with a national record temperature of 41.8 deg C. Kagoshima 'is seeing heavy rains that it has never experienced before', an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) told a press conference. 'Lives are at risk... We ask that you secure your safety by moving to buildings located even slightly away from streams or cliffs, or to buildings less prone to flooding,' he said, noting that dangerous conditions may already exist in affected areas. The JMA official also urged residents to evacuate without waiting for orders from municipalities. A land ministry official warned in the same press conference about the risks of rivers bursting their banks. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up More than 490 millimetres of rain fell over 24 hours through 4.40 am (1940 GMT Thursday) in one area of Kagoshima - its largest recorded downpour, according to Kyodo News. Kirishima, a city in Kagoshima, told residents to evacuate or take alternative measures following the JMA's special warning -- the highest on its five-scale system. 'Rivers are swelling, posing a risk of flooding, or flooding may have already occurred over the levees,' the city said on its website. Domestic flights at Kagoshima airport were cancelled because of the rain. AFP
