Heavy Rain in Kyushu Region, Japan Causes River Flooding... 14 People in Nursing Facility in Cardiopulmonary Arrest

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Heavy rain fell on June 4 in the southern Kyushu region of Japan, causing numerous casualties and property damage.

According to local media such as NHK, the heavy rain that poured from dawn caused flooding at least 11 locations along the upper and lower reaches of the Kuma River flowing through Kumamoto Prefecture, submerging riverside villages including Hitoyoshi City.

At a nursing facility for the elderly in Kumamura, which was flooded up to the second floor due to the Kuma River's overflow, 14 people were found in cardiopulmonary arrest.

In Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, where the heavy rain was concentrated, the maximum hourly rainfall reached 98 mm, and in Minamata City, the total rainfall over 24 hours reached 500 mm.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan announced that at least 16 landslides were confirmed due to this heavy rain, including 15 in Kumamoto Prefecture and 1 in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Kyodo News reported that at least 9 people, including 6 in Ashikita Town, are missing due to landslides and other incidents.

In Ashikita Town, apart from the missing persons, the death of a woman in her 80s was also confirmed.

Although the rain weakened in the afternoon, communication disruptions and power outages occurred in various places due to flooding, and many villages remain isolated, making it difficult to accurately grasp the full extent of the damage.

Evacuation orders were issued to approximately 92,000 households and 200,000 people in Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures on this day.

The Japanese government held two disaster countermeasure cabinet meetings chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the morning and afternoon regarding the heavy rain in the Kyushu region, mobilizing about 10,000 Self-Defense Force personnel to assist in rescue and recovery operations in the flood-affected areas.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Abe stated, "Necessary supplies must be provided to evacuation centers across the region with full consideration of measures against the novel coronavirus," urging maximum caution to prevent the spread of the virus.