Nearly 850,000 ordered to evacuate in Japan as downpours, flooding, mudslides continue into Friday
Heavy rain wreaked havoc on the Japanese prefectures of Saga, Fukuoka and Nagasaki, on Aug. 28, triggering widespread flooding and landslides. Across the area, the rough weather forced more than 240,000 evacuations and at least one person was reportedly killed. Shown in this video is the Chikugo River in Fukuoka, which was moving at a fast pace as storms soaked the region.
Downpours inundating parts of western Japan through the end of the week will raise the risk of flooding and mudslides.
The downpours began on Tuesday, and they are expected to continue through Friday before diminishing in intensity this weekend.
The hardest-hit areas from Tuesday into Wednesday night were across northwestern Kyushu where more than 500 mm (20 inches) was reported in Hirado.
Radar image showing heavy rain spreading across parts of Japan on Friday, local time.
Rainfall in excess of 350 mm (12 inches) was reported in Sasebo and Saga through Thursday evening, leading to significant flooding.
More than 100 mm (4 inches) fell in an hour during the heaviest rainfall on Tuesday, and mudslide warnings have been issued for parts of Nagasaki, Saga and Fukuoka prefectures, according to NHK.
Mudslides were reported in Takeo, and the Ogi and Imari rivers overflowed their banks on Wednesday, according to the Japan Times.
At least three deaths were reported due to the flooding, and another person was still missing after multiple automobiles were swept away in floodwaters.
Nearly 850,000 people have been ordered to evacuate across Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. Rail service was affected in the same prefectures.
Waves of heavier downpours are likely to continue through Friday across northwestern Kyushu and Southwestern Honshu; these areas will be at the greatest risk for flooding and travel disruptions, especially when considering the previous downpours from earlier this week.
Rainfall will also reach parts of Kyushu, Shikoku and central Honshu, bringing a more localized threat of flooding.
Hardest-hit locations could receive an additional 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rainfall into Friday.
Residents of Kyushu, Shikoku and western Honshu should monitor this situation closely and be prepared to evacuate if warnings are issued by the local government.
Some downpours may linger into this weekend; however, the threat of widespread flooding and mudslides will begin to diminish.
Additional bouts of showers and thunderstorms are possible across much of Japan early next week.
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