Special Heavy Rain Warning Issued for Japan’s Ishikawa Pref.; About 4,800 Housing Units Without Power (UPDATE1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:07 JST, September 21, 2024

Heavy rain hit the Hokuriku region on Saturday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue special warnings for Wajima, Suzu and Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture. One person has been confirmed dead in Suzu, according to the Ishikawa prefectural government.

Earlier in the day, the agency said these areas were facing imminent danger of a serious disaster that occurs once every few decades. The areas were hit by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January this year.

According to the prefectural government, as of 4 p.m. on Saturday, one person died in Suzu, and three were missing in Wajima and Noto. Two people were seriously injured in Noto.

According to the weather agency, more than 120 millimeters of rain fell in Wajima in one hour until 9:30 a.m. Wakayama and Orito rivers in Suzu and Tsukada River in Wajima were flooded. The cities issued evacuation directives to local residents.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that lifelines in the affected areas have been severely affected, and about 4,800 housing units, mainly in Ishikawa Prefecture, were without power.

“We will work closely with the affected local governments to obtain information on damage and do our utmost to take emergency measures to respond to the disaster,” Hayashi told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office.