Floods and landslides wreak havoc in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture
23 September 2024 07:29
Not only in Central Europe do floods and human tragedies occur. In the Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa, record rainfall has caused flooding and landslides, tragically resulting in fatalities. The cities most affected were Wajima and Suzu, already struggling with reconstruction efforts after a devastating earthquake on January 1.
Record rainfall led to tragic consequences in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, where 6 people have died, and 10 are missing. The flooding and landslides that struck this region resulted from intense rainfall that began on Saturday and lasted until midday Monday local time (Sunday evening ET).
In just one day, Wajima and Suzu received twice the usual monthly rainfall for September. The heavy downpour caused numerous rivers to overflow, cutting off roads and isolating over a hundred towns in the region. As a result of landslides, two people were found dead near a tunnel in Wajima, including a road worker who was carrying out repairs. Among the fatalities were also elderly men and a woman, as confirmed by local authorities.
The situation is even more dire as water flooded temporary homes built for people who lost their homes in the earthquake earlier this year.
As if that were not enough, the region is still reeling from the tragic 7.5 magnitude earthquake that occurred in January. At least 236 people died as a result of this disaster, many buildings were destroyed, and a fire broke out, further complicating the situation.
Tens of thousands of evacuated people
At the beginning of the week, the Hokuriku Electric Power Company confirmed that around 4,000 households in Ishikawa Prefecture were without power. Over the weekend, more than 40,000 residents were evacuated from four cities, including Wajima, Suzu, and Noto. The crisis also affected residents of Niigata and Yamagata prefectures, where an additional 16,000 people were evacuated.
Authorities continue to appeal for caution and preparation for potential further threats related to the weather and the instability of the terrain.
