Unprecedented Heavy Rain in Kyushu Region, Japan... 1 Dead, 3 Missing

Human Casualties from Landslide... Evacuation Order for Residents
Caused by Sea Temperature Rise and Other Climate Anomalies

Unprecedented heavy rain in the northern Kyushu region of Japan has caused casualties, with one person dead and three missing. The damage has expanded as the largest amount of rainfall in decades concentrated in the area. Experts point to abnormal weather caused by rising sea temperatures as the cause.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, NHK reported that one person died in Fukuoka Prefecture and three people were missing and out of contact in Saga Prefecture due to record-breaking heavy rain. The deceased, a woman in her 70s, was reportedly buried when a landslide caused soil and debris to flow into her home at 3:40 a.m. Fire authorities rescued the woman and her husband from the house, but the woman ultimately lost her life.

The three missing persons also disappeared after their homes were buried by landslides. Police and fire departments are currently conducting search operations. However, landslides have occurred consecutively not only in Saga Prefecture but also in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and the number of casualties is expected to increase further.

NHK described this heavy rain as a "once-in-decades downpour." The 24-hour rainfall in Soeda Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, reached 423mm, marking the highest ever recorded at that observation point. Another observation point in Kurume City recorded 402.5mm of rainfall in 24 hours, also the highest ever. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a special warning, the highest level of alert for heavy rain, for northern Kyushu as of that morning.

Damage continues to grow due to river flooding and landslides. A river passing through northern Hita City, Oita Prefecture, overflowed, isolating 473 people in 211 households across three areas. Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture issued an emergency evacuation advisory to 12,509 people in 6,056 households due to river flooding.

Road closures due to landslides have also been frequent. According to the West Nippon Expressway Company Kyushu Branch, soil runoff on the highway led to traffic bans on both directions at three locations toward Kyushu and two locations toward Oita. JR West Japan temporarily suspended Shinkansen operations from 6:40 a.m. to 9 a.m. that day, and JR Kyushu decided to suspend all special express trains, including the 'Yufuin no Mori,' for the entire day.

Air travel was also disrupted. At Fukuoka Airport, 12 flights departing from the airport were consecutively canceled starting from 9:30 a.m. that day.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that a "line-shaped precipitation zone" formed across Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga Prefectures, causing repeated river flooding and landslide disasters. A line-shaped precipitation zone refers to a long band of rain clouds similar to a stationary front, characterized by heavy rainfall concentrated in a narrow area.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Fukuoka Prefecture held a disaster countermeasures headquarters meeting that morning to assess the damage. Seitaro Hattori, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture, said at the meeting, "This is an entirely unpredictable situation," and urged staff to "thoroughly confirm the damage and do their utmost to rescue lives."

The central government also launched an emergency response. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno held a press conference that day, stating, "The government is making every effort to assess the damage situation, and related ministries and agencies are responding in unison with the policy of prioritizing human lives." He appealed, "If you feel even a little danger, do not hesitate and take action quickly to protect your own life."

Experts analyzed that this heavy rain was caused by abnormal weather. The Yomiuri Shimbun, citing officials from the Japan Meteorological Agency, reported, "This heavy rain occurred as the rainy season front stalled north of Kyushu while a large amount of water vapor flowed in from the Pacific Ocean," and added, "Recently, sea temperatures near Japan, where water vapor is supplied, have risen, increasing the frequency of heavy rain."

Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that the heavy rain is expected to continue until the 11th and urged caution.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.