Summary

Downpours on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu have led to flooding and mudslides on Monday, causing injuries and disruptions to travel during the Buddhist holiday week. Evacuation advisories were issued as several individuals remain missing. A persistent low-pressure system has been inundating the region since last week.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a high-level warning for the prefecture of Kumamoto on Monday morning, noting that rainfall had surpassed 40 cm (15.7 inches) within the previous day, with additional rain anticipated until Tuesday afternoon. Subsequently, the alert for Kumamoto was downgraded as rain moved east towards the Tokyo area, but a lower-level warning persists for western Japan with another 20 cm (7.8 inches) expected.

Local authorities in Kumamoto and six other prefectures have issued evacuation warnings for tens of thousands of residents. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced defense troops were deployed to Kagoshima to supply fresh water to the affected communities.

Rescue workers are currently searching for missing individuals in Kumamoto. Reports detail a man who vanished during a mudslide while his family waited in a vehicle nearby. The rest of the family was rescued, but the man was later confirmed deceased.

In the same prefecture, an elderly woman was discovered in a car that had fallen into a river, her condition remains unclear. Three others have gone missing due to swollen rivers, with one person trapped under a mudslide rescued alive. Reports also indicate additional missing persons from nearby Fukuoka prefecture.

Approximately 20 people who are stranded at a camping site in Kamiamakusa city await rescue. Television footage displayed floodwaters carrying debris while residents navigated through knee-deep water.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba conveyed the government’s commitment to assist in the search and rescue efforts and emphasized the need for residents to prioritize their safety.

Service disruptions were noted among bullet trains linking Kagoshima and Hakata, as local train services were suspended on Monday morning. While some train service has resumed in Kyushu, disruptions are expanding to western Japan as heavy precipitation moves eastward.

Additionally, about 6,000 households lost power in Kumamoto; however, nearly half regained electricity later on Monday. Notably, the previous week’s heavy rains resulted in one death and four injuries in Kagoshima.