83 People Dead In Japan After Record Rainfall Causes Landslides & Flooding
More than 80 people have died in Japan after torrential rainfall has caused the worst flooding in the country’s recorded history. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 26.3 centimeters of rain accumulated in less than three hours in the Kochi prefecture, which is greater than any previous records since they began in 1976.
More than 1.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes, whilst another 3 million have been advised to leave their homes. There have been 83 confirmed deaths, whilst 57 people are unaccounted for and 6 people have sustained serious injuries as flooding and landslides swept the nation.
The JMA has since lifted the emergency warnings in the 11 prefectures they were issued for, however have kept warnings in place for flooding and landslides. Over 50,000 military personnel, police officers, and rescue workers are working to locate the missing and assist in evacuations.
The majority of rain hit the island nation on Thursday, and many villages flooded so badly that traffic lights were barely visible. Flooding was so bad residents sought refuge on their roof whilst waiting to be rescued. More than 40 helicopters were deployed to assist in rescue operations, as many roads between villages could only be passed by boats.
