Japan: Heavy rain causes many people to die and disappear

At least 5 people died and 14 people were missing due to heavy rain that lasted many hours, causing soil erosion and sweeping away many houses in the area of ​​Kyushu, southwestern Japan.

According to the country's meteorological agency, the Kyushu region, especially Kumamoto and Oita prefectures, began to show unprecedented heavy rains ever on the morning of July 12.

The Japan Meteorological Agency fears heavy rain will cover a wide area from Western Japan to Tohoku (Northeast) region of the country from July 13 and ask people to take precautions.

According to the agency, the rainfall measured in 3 hours this morning in localities in Kumamoto Prefecture is quite high, especially Aso city is 228.5mm, Minamiaso village 214.5mm and Kikuchi city is 181 , 5mm. Meanwhile, observed rainfall in Takada city, Oita is 135mm.

In Tokyo, speaking at a parliamentary session, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said he had received unprecedented heavy rains and the government would make every effort to implement effective anti-disaster measures.

The Japanese government established a liaison office within the crisis management center of the Prime Minister.

Heavy rain caused all rail and road services to be delayed. The Shinkansen high-speed train line in Kyushu is also temporarily interrupted in some areas of the northern and central islands.

In the Kinki region, with the center being Osaka city, the rail service on the connection with Kansai International Airport is interrupted.

Kyushu Electric Power Company announced that about 10,000 households in Kumamoto and Oita lost their power completely.

According to the meteorological agency, in the next 24 hours, rainfall will reach 200mm in some areas of Central Japan as well as in Kyushu and Shikoku, 150mm in the Kanto-Koshin area including Tokyo and suburbs.

In addition, the agency warns of the risk of lightning and tornadoes in the coming hours.