Japan’s Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, which was struck by a powerful earthquake earlier this year, recently experienced record-breaking heavy rainfall. The peninsula was hit by widespread flooding of rivers and landslides, triggering the Japanese Meteorological Agency to issue the highest level of “heavy rain special warning.” As of now, it is reported that 6 people have died, 10 are missing, and thousands of households are without electricity and water.
According to Japanese media reports, the northern area of Ishikawa Prefecture has been experiencing unprecedented heavy rainfall since last Saturday (September 21), which continued until Monday (September 23) noon local time. Dozens of rivers in the prefecture have overflowed, leading to the destruction or washing away of many buildings by floodwaters. Several roads have been cut off by mudslides, forcing authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of residents.
The Japan Meteorological Agency stated that within the 48 hours ending at 10 p.m. local time on Sunday (September 22), the cumulative rainfall in the city of Wajima was 498.5 millimeters, and in the city of Suzu, it was 393.5 millimeters, more than twice the average September monthly precipitation in previous years, setting the record for the highest precipitation ever recorded in the region. Wajima, Suzu, and Noto Town issued a heavy rain special warning last Saturday and lowered it to an alert level by Sunday morning.
This record-breaking heavy rainfall caused numerous rivers to overflow and multiple landslides in the area. Ishikawa Prefecture police and fire department reported that the heavy rain has resulted in 6 deaths and 10 people missing. Among the missing, 2 were swept away by the river, while the whereabouts of 8 remain unknown.
The heavy rain also caused widespread power outages and water disruptions in the Noto region. According to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), as of Sunday afternoon, approximately 6,200 households in Wajima City, 1,738 households in Suzu City, and some temporary residences in Noto Town have experienced water interruptions due to issues like water pump failures and pipe damages. Based on data from Hokuriku Electric Power Company, around 4,000 households in the Noto region are without electricity as of the report’s release.
Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, stated that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed the government to prioritize saving lives and to make every effort in disaster management. He added that Self-Defense Forces have been dispatched to Ishikawa Prefecture to participate in rescue operations.
Earlier this year, a major earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula, resulting in at least 236 deaths in the region. The reconstruction efforts of the local communities are still ongoing and have not been completed yet.