Severe Flooding in Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture Due to Torrential Rain

Torrential rainfall has led to dramatic incidents in Kumamoto and Fukuoka prefectures, where two people were found in cardiopulmonary arrest, and five individuals are reported missing. This extreme weather, caused by a surge of warm and moist air, resulted in the development of linear precipitation bands that unleashed heavy rains over these regions repeatedly during the specified period.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported unprecedented rainfall levels in several municipalities within Kumamoto Prefecture. For instance, the town of Tamana experienced an astounding 404.5 millimeters of rain over just 12 hours until Monday morning, with Yatsushiro and Kosa following closely behind at 385.5 millimeters and 361 millimeters respectively, all amounts drastically exceeding the average rainfall typically expected for August.

In response to these conditions, the agency had issued special heavy rain warnings for Tamana and surrounding areas on Monday morning. Tragically, one of the individuals found in Kosa succumbed to injuries from a mudslide that destroyed his home, while another in Yatsushiro was discovered unresponsive in a vehicle that plunged into an irrigation canal.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has indicated that a new wave of rain could impact the Hokuriku region, northern Kyushu, and other areas from Tuesday evening into early Wednesday. The heaviest rain is predicted to occur over a 24-hour period leading up to 6 a.m. Wednesday, with forecasts estimating that Hokuriku and Tokai could receive 100 millimeters, and regions including Tohoku, Kanto-Koshin, Chugoku, and points in northern Kyushu and Okinawa may see up to 80 millimeters of rain.