Heavy rains in Japan trigger thousands to evacuate
Several bullet train services suspended amid severe weather
ISTANBUL
Heavy rains in Japan on Sunday triggered the evacuation of thousands as it braced for heavy rains, local broadcaster NHK reported.
At 9 pm (1200GMT), the city of Karatsu on the island of Kyushu issued an evacuation order for 113,117 residents in over 51,000 households due to heightened landslide risk from heavy rain. This Level 4 alert urged residents to leave dangerous areas.
At 8.55 pm (1155GMT), the city of Hita, also on Kyushu, issued a Level 5 urgent alert, the highest on the scale, to 23,756 people in nearly 11,000 households across six districts, warning of severe disaster risk. Residents were urged to move to safer locations, such as higher floors, nearby buildings, or areas away from slopes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency noted that about 110 millimeters (4.3 inches) of rain fell in an hour by 9.50 pm (1250GMT) near the cities of Tamana and Kikuchi on Kyushu. Citing imminent danger, the agency issued an alert and urged residents to stay safe.
Heavy rainfall also persisted in southwestern Fukuoka, northern Kyushu, and western Yamaguchi, prompting the weather agency to issue warnings for potential landslides and flooding, according to Kyodo News.
The relentless weather also brought rail travel to a standstill. Several bullet train services were suspended on Sunday, with the Sanyo Shinkansen Line halting operations between the Hiroshima and Hakata stations, leading to a complete suspension of service on that segment for the remainder of the day.
