TOKYO, May 22 (NNN-NHK) – Wide swathes of Japan have been pummeled by torrential rain yesterday, the weather agency here said.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), a seasonal front hit western and eastern Japan, triggering heavy downpours on Thursday and yesterday.
The JMA said, in the wake of the downpours, residents must be vigilant for mudslides, as the deluge has loosened ground, with residences in low-lying, mountainous areas at particular risk of being hit by potentially fatal landslides.
In May, as Japan’s rainy season kicks in, a number of regions have already logged record amounts of rainfall, and the recent downpour resulted from the front becoming active, as it clashed with warm, humid air, the weather agency said.
According to Japan’s public broadcaster, Mount Ontake in Nagano Prefecture, saw 289.5 mm of rain, Itsuki Village in Kumamoto Prefecture recorded 251.5 mm, Ibigawa Town in Gifu Prefecture logged 195.5 mm and the city of Osaka had 192 mm of rain, in the 24 hours through yesterday.
Along with mudslides, which claim the lives of hundreds annually, the JMA has also urged residents to be on guard for other weather events, including tornadoes, wave surges and flooded rivers, among others.– NNN-NHK
