Record rains in Japan's quake-stricken Noto region kill at least one


  • World
  • Saturday, 21 Sep 2024

Vehicles are partially submerged in floodwater, amidst heavy rains, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, September 21, 2024, in this screen grab taken from a social media video. @kohei_kirimoto/via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) -Record rains in central Japan's Noto region, still recovering from a major New Year's Day earthquake, killed at least one person on Saturday, prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands and caused blackouts for more than 6,000 households.

Seven people, including four working on quake reconstruction, were missing, and calls for rescue were swamping the fire department, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Hourly rainfall hit record 121 mm (4.8 inches) on Saturday morning in Wajima, while neighbouring Suzu received 84.5 mm in an hour, also an all-time high.

TV footage showed brown floodwater turning streets into rivers in Wajima, with cars half submerged.

Eiichi Higashi, a Wajima resident taking shelter at an evacuation centre within the city, told NHK that people were rushing to the facility as evening neared.

"It's tough to see people who live in temporary housing after losing their houses to the quake now coming to yet another shelter because of the rain," Higashi said.

Military personnel have been dispatched to the region to work on a rescue mission along with police officers and fire fighters, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

"This is heavy rain in the region that suffered massive damage by the Noto peninsula earthquake. There must be many people who are very worried," Hayashi said.

The 7.6 magnitude quake killed more than 300 people in Suzu, Wajima and surrounding areas.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard)

   

Next In World

Canada apologizes to Inuit communities for mass killing of sled dogs decades ago
Putin signs law forgiving debt arrears for new Russian recruits for Ukraine war
European Film Festival kicks off in Libya's Tripoli
Feature: China-funded training benefits Myanmar's tourism sector
Thousands protest in Valencia over lack of schools after deadly floods
Barcelona protesters demand affordable rents as Spain juggles tourism impact
Gaza highlighted at Cairo Int'l Film Festival, Palestinian filmmakers awarded
COP29 agrees deal to kick-start global carbon credit trading
Feature: Namibian cultural group tackles social issues, creating opportunities with traditional dance
Israel suspects disappearance of Jewish religious emissary in UAE linked to terrorist act

Others Also Read