Heavy rain in Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan has triggered flooding and landslides, leaving at least six people dead and several others missing.
On Sunday, Sept. 22, 2014, Ishikawa Prefectural Police and Fire Departments said 10 people were found near a tunnel in the city of Wajima that was hit by a landslide on Saturday, but two of them had died. The area is undergoing repairs after being damaged by a powerful New Year’s Day earthquake.
In Wajima, two women were found dead in a house buried in a rice field that had been buried by a landslide. A man who had been rescued from a river earlier was also confirmed dead. In Suzu, one person was found dead after a landslide buried the victim’s home.
Meanwhile, two people are missing after being swept away by the river in Noto and Suzu, while four houses along the river in Wajima were swept away by the current. Four more people are missing.
The Ishikawa prefectural government has released the names of eight missing persons in Wajima and Suzu prefectures, who are aged between 14 and 89.
Meanwhile, Wajima received nearly 500 mm of rain on Friday night, while Suzu received nearly 400 mm, more than double the average for the entire month of September and the highest amount since records began in 1929.
On Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency changed the heavy rain warning level for parts of Ishikawa Prefecture from an “emergency warning” to a regular “warning,” but they are still urging people to be aware of possible flooding and landslides.
