TOKYO (Reuters) – Torrential Rain Triggers Floods and Landslides, Leaving Several Dead and Missing in Kyushu, Japan
Torrential rain wreaked havoc over Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu, resulting in devastating floods and landslides that claimed the lives of at least six individuals, with three others still missing, according to officials on Tuesday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the previously issued special warnings for heavy rains in the northern parts of the island to lower-level warnings and advisories. Nevertheless, residents were urged to remain cautious and vigilant, as the risk of further landslides persisted.
This recent bout of heavy rainfall serves as a stark reminder of the alarming impacts of climate change, with Japan joining a growing list of countries worldwide that have experienced extreme weather events in recent days.
During a regular news conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated, “Municipalities are still assessing the damage caused by the disaster, but we have received reports of three confirmed deaths, three other deaths potentially linked to the incident, three missing individuals, and two lightly injured parties.”
The heavy rain forced major tire manufacturer Bridgestone to halt operations at four factories located in Kyushu on Monday. However, production resumed early Tuesday morning, as confirmed by a company spokesperson.
(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
