Heavy rain and landslides have left six people dead and 10 others missing in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture. The region, still recovering from a devastating earthquake earlier this year, now faces severe flooding. Public broadcaster NHK reported that six deaths have been confirmed, while Kyodo news agency noted over 100 communities were cut off due to blocked roads. Rivers have overflowed, leading to widespread flooding and landslides, with two deaths occurring near a landslide-hit tunnel in Wajima city. The tunnel had been undergoing repairs after being damaged in the New Year’s Day earthquake.
Authorities are continuing the search for two people swept away by floodwaters and eight others who remain unaccounted for. Rainfall in the region has reached twice the average for September, with Wajima and Suzu cities seeing record levels. Over 540 millimeters (21 inches) of rain fell in Wajima over 72 hours, making it the heaviest rainfall since records began. Japan’s meteorological agency downgraded the “special warnings” for the region, but still urged residents to stay vigilant.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed officials to monitor the damage and cooperate with local authorities to aid recovery. The region had been slowly recovering from a magnitude-7.5 earthquake earlier this year, which killed 374 people and destroyed homes. Floodwaters have now inundated emergency housing built for earthquake survivors, further complicating recovery efforts.
Power outages affected 4,000 households in Ishikawa, with Hokuriku Electric Power Company reporting disruptions due to the extreme weather. Local residents, already devastated by the earlier earthquake, now face additional challenges from flooding. Akemi Yamashita, a 54-year-old Wajima resident, described the floodwaters rising rapidly, reaching half the height of her car within 30 minutes.
Military personnel were deployed over the weekend to assist in rescue efforts as thousands of residents were urged to evacuate. Climate scientists warn that human-driven climate change is increasing the risk of severe weather events, with warmer atmospheres holding more moisture. JMA forecaster Satoshi Sugimoto described the rainfall in the region as “unprecedented” and emphasized the urgent need for residents to prioritize safety.