Tragedy in Ishikawa: Floods and landslides devastate Japanese towns
Floods and human tragedies do not occur solely in Central Europe. In the Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa, record rainfall has led to flooding and landslides, resulting in fatalities. The cities most severely affected are Wajima and Suzu, which were still recovering from a devastating earthquake on 1 January.
Record rainfall has had tragic consequences in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, where six people have died and ten are missing. The flood and landslides in this region resulted from intense rainfall that began on Saturday and continued until midday on Monday local time (Sunday evening GMT).
In one day, Wajima and Suzu received double the average monthly rainfall for September. The heavy rain caused numerous rivers to overflow, cutting off roads and isolating over a hundred towns in the region. As a result of the landslides, two people were found dead near a tunnel in Wajima, including a road worker who was carrying out repairs. Among the deceased were also elderly individuals, as confirmed by local authorities.
The situation is even more dire as water flooded temporary homes built for people who had lost their residences during the earthquake at the beginning of the year.
To add to the plight, the region is still feeling the effects of the tragic 7.5-magnitude earthquake that occurred in January. At least 236 people died as a result of that disaster, many buildings were destroyed, and a fire broke out, complicating the situation further.
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. Additionally, over the weekend, more than 40,000 residents were evacuated from four cities, including Wajima, Suzu, and the town of Noto. The crisis also affected residents in Niigata and Yamagata prefectures, where an additional 16,000 people were evacuated.
Authorities continue to appeal for caution and preparation for potential further threats due to the weather and the instability of the terrain.
