- Bridges collapsed and rivers burst their banks as heavy rain lashed northern Japan.
- 200,000 residents urged to evacuate as authorities warned of floods and landslides.
- TV footage showed a muddy mass of broken trees swept into residential area.
Yesterday, severe rain battered northern Japan; 200,000 inhabitants were asked to leave as authorities; issued flood warnings; bridges fell; and rivers burst their banks.
The downpours, which in some places set records, were captured on television; when a muddy mass of uprooted trees surged into a residential neighbourhood in the mountains. According to top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno; two people have been reported missing.
Landslides and floods are now more likely, according to authorities. 200,000 residents in five areas—Niigata, Yamagata, Fukushima, Ishikawa; and Fukui—were given non-obligatory evacuation advice; according to public broadcaster NHK.
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In other TV video, a river that was overflowing with water inundated homes; and another filthy canal rose to the height of a bridge.
Bullet trains operated by Shinkansen were suspended in some of the impacted areas.
Scientists claim that because a warmer atmosphere stores more water; climate change is increasing the probability of heavy rain in Japan and worldwide. In the central resort town of Atami in 2021, a severe landslide; that killed 27 people was caused by heavy rain.
And during the nation’s yearly rainy season in 2018, floods and landslides; claimed the lives of over 200 people in western Japan.
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