Rare “emergency warnings” were issued by Japan’s Meteorological Agency against landslides, rising rivers, strong winds and lightning strikes caused by what it called “historic” rains in 23 prefectures across the western and central parts of the country.
At least 82 people have died while over 50 remain missing on Sunday (July 8) after torrential rains triggered massive flooding and landslides in western Japan; rescue operations are still ongoing in disaster-hit areas.
Rare “emergency warnings” were issued by Japan’s Meteorological Agency against landslides, rising rivers, strong winds and lightning strikes caused by what it called “historic” rains in 23 prefectures across the western and central parts of the country, South China Morning Post reported.
Roads were damaged and flooded everywhere and many railway sections remain disrupted, with bridges swept away and tracks flooded.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 17 railroad operators were suspending services on 56 routes in western Japan or elsewhere.
Some sections may need several months of repair work to resume train services.
Even as after the water recedes, it will take some time for normalcy to return. Some 276,000 homes in 11 prefectures have reportedly sustained water outages.
In Okayama Prefecture, one of the hardest-hit areas, more than 1,000 people became trapped on the roofs of buildings after three dykes on the Oda River burst. They were rescued by boats or helicopters.
Mabicho district, nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) or one-third of the district was submerged. About 4,600 homes were inundated in the area.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for an all-out search and rescue effort during an emergency meeting in Tokyo, a first since a meeting in 2016 when strong earthquakes hit Kumamoto and Oita prefectures in southwestern Japan.