Just months after a devastating earthquake, Japan’s Noto region is facing another disaster as torrential rain triggers landslides, floods homes, and strands residents in areas still rebuilding. 🌧️💔
Rivers Overflow, Landslides Cut Off Communities
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest alert as rainfall reached 'life-threatening' levels in Ishikawa prefecture, including Wajima, where one person is missing. At least 12 rivers overflowed, submerging roads and neighborhoods in muddy water. Residents in two Wajima districts are stranded due to landslides, while 6,500 homes lost power. 🚨
‘Putting Lives First’: Rescue Efforts Ramp Up
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasized the government’s priority: \"Search and rescue operations are critical. We urge everyone to follow evacuation advisories.\" Self-Defense Forces have joined local teams to assist, but blocked roads and unstable terrain complicate efforts. 🚑
Quake Recovery Setback
The Noto region, still reeling from January’s magnitude 7.6 quake that killed over 370 people, now faces halted reconstruction. Many temporary shelters damaged by the quake are again uninhabitable. \"This feels like a cruel test,\" one local resident told reporters. 🏚️
What’s Next?
Up to 20 cm (7.8 inches) of rain is forecast in the next 24 hours, with neighboring Niigata and Yamagata prefectures also at risk. Authorities warn of further landslides and flooding as the ground remains saturated. 🌍🔍
