Highest Heavy Rain Warning Issued in Fukui, Central Japan, Mudslides Reported
Authorities urged immediate evacuation as mudslides and flooded roads were reported and 244,000 people were told to take emergency safety measures.
- On Aug 30, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 5 heavy rain emergency warning for three cities in Fukui Prefecture, citing risks of landslides and flash floods.
- Warm, humid air flowing from the Sea of Japan into a rain front created cumulonimbus clouds, explained JMA official Takuya Hosomi, causing what Japan calls "guerrilla rainstorms" with downpours of 60 millimeters per hour.
- Record rainfall of over 300 mm fell in Katsuyama, Sakai, and Fukui within 24 hours through Sunday morning. Around 244,000 people have been urged to take emergency safety measures, with 111,000 residents facing evacuation orders.
- Mudslides and stranded vehicles have been reported, prompting the JMA to lower the warning to Level 4 later in the morning. Officials may discharge water from a dam in Sakai to manage rising water levels.
- Atmospheric instability remains, with heavy rain forecast for western to eastern Japan, similar to conditions that prompted Level 5 warnings in Toyama and Ishikawa prefectures on Thursday. The JMA warns further alerts may follow.
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(Tokyo=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Do-yeon = Record-breaking torrential rain poured down on Fukui Prefecture in central-western Honshu, Japan.
“This is torrential rain unlike anything we have ever experienced. There is a risk to lives, so please ensure your safety immediately.” At 5:30 a.m. on the 30th, the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport held a press conference and made this urgent plea. On this day, the Meteorological Agency [in Fukui City, Ono City, and Katsuya in Fukui Prefecture, north-central Honshu, Japan.
Level 5 Emergency Warning for heavy rain issued in Fukui Prefecture
Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a Level-5 Emergency Warning for heavy rain in Fukui City, Ono City and Katsuyama City in Fukui prefecture. It's the highest level of alert on the agency's scale of one-to-five.
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