A man is rescued in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, on July 4, 2020, amid flooding triggered by torrential rain in southwestern Japan. (Kyodo)
Japan bracing for another downpour of torrential rains, already responsible for killing 18
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily | JULY 5th 2020
Public broadcaster NHK spoke on Sunday about the torrential rains that have caused serious damages and flooding in Japan’s Southern Island of Kyushi, causing the deaths of 18 people and leaving 14 still missing.
Heavy flooding and muddy landslides were unleashed by the rains. Thousands had to be evacuated from their homes, and thus, 92,200 households in the prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima were left emptied according to the Kyodo news agency.
“The heavy rainfall is likely to continue until Sunday, and people in the area are required to be on maximum alert,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday. However, it’s since been feared that the rainfall may go on for longer, as the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned the people of the region to brace for more downpours. It’s issued its highest possible warning in Saturday. The JMA also added that the torrential rainfall was far greater than any seen before in the region, highlighting just how unprepared the local residents were for the disaster.
“From this evening on, extremely heavy rains with thunder are expected in Southern as well as Northern Kyushu,” an agency official from the JMA said to Reuters. “The rainfall so far has already loosened the ground. There is a high chance of landslides occurring, even without much additional rain.”
Televised broadcast of the destruction has revealed military rescue personnel on the scene (Japan’s Self-Defence Force), as per Minister Abe’s statement that they’d be sending at least 10,000 soldiers over to act out rescue operations and help with evacuations.
Mudslides destroyed many houses, and the ensuing floodwaters uprooted tree trunks and cars, carrying them around and causing further property damages. Officials reported many residents taking shelter from the floods up on rooftops, avoiding them the best they could.
It’s been found that 14 of the casualties of the flooding were discovered in a nursing home in Kuma village. The building was invaded by mud and water, flooded to a dangerous point, Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima told reporters. The victims were in “cardio-respiratory arrest,” according to medical officials. “Cardio-respiratory arrest” is a term used primarily in Japan, for before death is officially certifiable.
Kabashima added that three elderly residents were diagnosed with hypothermia.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corp had also gone on to report that over 33,000 phone lines in the struck areas had been cut. “I saw large trees and parts of houses being washed away and heard them crashing into something,” said Haruka Yamada, 32, to Kyodo News.
“The air is filled with the smell of leaking gas and sewage.”
The Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures is where the flooding was primarily centred, as the Kuma river overflowed. Though the island of Kyushi was among the hardest hit places. No damages to the major factories in the Kumamoto or neighbouring prefectures has been reported though.
By Patryk Krych | © The World Daily 2020
