TOKYO, Aug 4 (NNN-NHK) – Torrential rain lashed regions in north-east and central Japan overnight through this morning, with local authorities in Yamagata and Niigata Prefectures, urging residents to seek shelter.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a level 5 alert, the highest on Japan’s disaster warning scale, for six municipalities in Yamagata Prefecture, but has since downgraded the warning.
The emergency warning for Niigata Prefecture, however, is still in effect, the weather agency said.
Heavy downpours hit the north-eastern and central regions from last night to this morning, with local authorities in Yamagata saying, extensive flooding had occurred due to the Mogami River bursting its banks.
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said, around 30,000 people in Yamagata were urged to evacuate their homes last night.
Houses were flooded, cars submerged, roads inundated and water supplies were cut off, in some of the affected towns and cities, Yamagata and Niigata-based authorities said.
In Yamagata, a bridge reportedly collapsed and a car was swept away in the deluge, according to media accounts in the area.
Fukushima Prefecture, in Japan’s north-east, also experienced extensive flooding, media reports said, with local authorities saying, homes and roads had also been flooded.
East Japan Railway Co. said, it will suspend its Shinkansen bullet train service throughout today, between Fukushima and Yamagata’s Shinjo, due to the torrential rain.
The weather agency said, more heavy rain is expected in the southern Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture this afternoon. It has also issued a notice of record hourly rainfall for the central prefectures of Ishikawa and Fukui Prefectures.
The Ishikawa prefectural government warned of landslides in four cities in the region.
Weather officials urged people to remain vigilant for landslides, swelling rivers and flooding, in the affected regions.
