Deadly Floods and Landslides Strike Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture Amid Record Rainfall - Full Report

Severe flooding and landslides triggered by record rainfall have claimed the lives of six people, with ten others reported missing, in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture. The cities of Wajima and Suzu, still recovering from a deadly earthquake earlier this year, were among the areas hardest hit by the deluge, which began on Saturday and continued into Monday.
Local media reported that both cities received twice their average September rainfall in just one weekend, causing dozens of rivers to overflow, cutting off roads, and isolating more than 100 communities. Among the fatalities were two individuals found near a landslide-affected tunnel in Wajima, one of whom was a construction worker carrying out road repairs. Several elderly victims were also confirmed dead.
Japan's meteorological agency had issued its highest "life-threatening" alert level for Ishikawa on Saturday, which was downgraded to a regular warning by Sunday. However, authorities have warned residents to remain vigilant as torrential rain was expected to continue until noon on Monday.
The floodwaters inundated temporary housing constructed for survivors of the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the region on New Year's Day, killing 236 people and causing widespread damage. Footage aired by NHK showed streets in Wajima submerged under water.
Approximately 4,000 households were without power on Monday, according to Hokuriku Electric Power Company. More than 40,000 residents across four cities in Ishikawa, including Wajima and Suzu, were evacuated, while 16,000 others in the Niigata and Yamagata prefectures were also advised to leave their homes due to ongoing risks.
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