Japan to evacuate 600,000 people over torrential rain

Around 600,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in the city of Kagoshima in Japan's southwest

World 10:51 03.07.2019

The evacuation order came as torrential rain continues to pummel southwest Japan, with Kyushu Island, which comprises Kagoshima City, the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture, one of the hardest-hit regions.

Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) had previously warned of torrential rain continuing to inundate the Kyushu region, with people in the area already on alert for possible natural disasters triggered by the extremely heavy rainfall.

Prior to Wednesday's evacuation order being issued, people in affected areas were being asked to pay attention to the latest weather warnings and to advice from local officials and to take preemptive measures to ensure their safety where necessary.

The weather agency has said that a seasonal front has been lingering over the region in the southwest of the country, with storm clouds developing owing to warm and humid air flows.

Kagoshima City, where the evacuation order was issued, had logged more than 40 millimeters of rain between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning, with officials warning of possible mudslides in the wider prefecture.

The extreme downpours will become more active until Thursday, the JMA said, with as much as 80 millimeters per hour expected for some areas in Kyushu, which is as much as the average amount of rainfall for the region for the entire month of July.

Ryuta Kurora, a senior Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecaster, told a hastily convened press conference a day earlier that torrential rain is expected through Thursday, with the southwestern main island of Kyushu likely to be the hardest hit.

Kurora said that residents in the affected areas should be aware that the situation could be life threatening and evacuations by residents should be swift in light of possible mudslides, flooding, lightening and tornadoes.

The JMA has also warned of possible "deep-seated" mudslides in areas that become inundated, which refers to the entire shift of the bedrock of mountains and slopes, leading to potentially devastating landslides.

Residents in areas that have and will be pummeled by rain over the next few days should identify where their nearest evacuations center are, Kurora said, adding that once an emergency evacuation order is issued, it will probably be too late.

"We want people to understand that a situation in which they have to protect their own lives is imminent," Kurora said underscoring the need for local residents to take preemptive measures if necessary.

Around 850,000 people were previously urged to evacuate from nearly 400,000 homes in the hardest-hit regions across Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Ehime prefectures, local media reported Tuesday.

The evacuation advisory issued Wednesday was level four, the second-highest on the weather agency's scale which peaks at five, which calls on all people to evacuate immediately.

Based on this, local officials said those under advisement should swiftly move to emergency shelters for safety.

Advisories have been given for people in inundated areas to remain vigilant for potential for heavy flooding, especially in low-lying areas and near rivers that might burst their banks. People have also been put on high alert for mudslides.

Read more:

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Australia's Qantas says 6 million customer accounts accessed in cyber hack
16:45 02.07.2025
US accuses UN expert of ‘economic warfare’ over report on companies aiding Israeli occupation
16:30 02.07.2025
150 National Guard troops reassigned from Los Angeles security mission to wildfire response
16:00 02.07.2025
Israeli strikes kill another 29 Palestinians in Gaza Strip
15:45 02.07.2025
Revenue of China’s software industry grows by 11.2%
15:30 02.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s one-on-one meeting with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev begins
15:20 02.07.2025
Zakharova: Friendly relations between Russia, Azerbaijan extremely important
15:15 02.07.2025
President of Northern Cyprus arrives in Azerbaijan
15:00 02.07.2025
COP29 president: US withdrawal from Paris agreement won't stop global climate movement
14:45 02.07.2025
President of Uzbekistan arrives in Azerbaijan on state visit
14:30 02.07.2025
Saudi Arabia receives written message from Iran
14:15 02.07.2025
Percentage of female students studying in Azerbaijan revealed
14:00 02.07.2025
Five of Russia's neighbors withdraw from Ottawa Treaty
13:45 02.07.2025
Bahar Muradova: Azerbaijan ready to share experience in expanding women's economic rights
13:30 02.07.2025
Prosecutor General's Office: Ziyaddin Safarov died in vehicle of Russian law enforcement agencies
13:15 02.07.2025
Adviser to Uzbek FM: Relations with Azerbaijan demonstrating steady growth in all areas
13:00 02.07.2025
ECO: Significant steps should be taken to increase women's digital skills
12:45 02.07.2025
Some Russian groups want to create crisis in relations with Azerbaijan
12:30 02.07.2025
Israel-Iran ceasefire set to drive oil prices toward $60 range: Experts
12:15 02.07.2025
Azerbaijani oil prices grow slightly
12:00 02.07.2025
Jeff Bezos sold Amazon shares worth about $737 million in June
11:45 02.07.2025
Drillship capsizes in Suez Gulf, Egypt's petroleum ministry says
11:30 02.07.2025
France returns military base to Senegal as part of broader withdrawal
11:15 02.07.2025
ACWA Power reveals investment in wind farm in Azerbaijan
11:00 02.07.2025
Secretary-general's rep: UN aware of Azerbaijan-Russia tensions
10:45 02.07.2025
Pakistan assumes UN Security Council presidency for July
10:30 02.07.2025
UN agencies warn of deepening hunger crisis for Sudanese refugees
10:15 02.07.2025
Trump doubts trade deal with Japan, saying 'They're very tough'
10:00 02.07.2025
French Prime Minister Bayrou survives 8th no-confidence vote in parliament
09:55 02.07.2025
Trump says Lara Trump would be 'great' for North Carolina Senate seat
09:45 02.07.2025
Anar Bagirov: Barbarity being committed against Azerbaijanis in Russia
09:30 02.07.2025
Drone attack in Russia's Udmurtia leaves three dead, dozens injured
20:15 01.07.2025
Billionaire Musk vows to launch new political party if controversial Trump bill passes Congress
20:00 01.07.2025
Broken Friendship: Azerbaijan–Russia Relations INTERVIEW
19:40 01.07.2025
Baku to host D-8 Youth Forum in July
19:30 01.07.2025
Speaker: Armenia should seriously begin discussing issue of stopping broadcasting Russian TV channels
19:20 01.07.2025
Russian Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijani envoy handed verbal note
19:15 01.07.2025
Azerbaijan signs $173.5M loan agreement with WB for renewable energy project
19:00 01.07.2025
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan ink several documents to diversify economic partnership
18:45 01.07.2025
Another group of Ukrainian children arrive in Azerbaijan for rehabilitation
18:15 01.07.2025
Hamısı