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Record Rainfall Triggers Mass Evacuations and Rescue Operations in Kyushu

Forecasts of continued heavy rain threaten saturated slopes, leaving over three million residents under evacuation advisories.

Overview

  • Japan Meteorological Agency recorded 37 cm of rain in six hours in Tamana city, setting a local short-duration record.
  • Fire and Disaster Management Agency ordered evacuations for more than 3 million people, with 384,000 in Kumamoto under the highest warning level.
  • Flooding and landslides have severed roads, suspended Kyushu Shinkansen and local train services, and left multiple residents missing.
  • Self-Defense Forces and defense troops have been deployed to deliver supplies and aid rescue teams in isolated communities.
  • Heavy rain is forecast through August 12, and officials warn that saturated ground could trigger further flooding and slope failures.