At least six fatalities have been reported on Japan’s Noto Peninsula following floods that hit an area still recovering from a major earthquake nine months prior. Over the weekend, the region experienced heavy rainfall, with the city of Wajima recording more than 540 millimeters (21 inches) in just 72 hours, marking the heaviest continuous rainfall on record.
The region is still reeling from a devastating magnitude-7.5 earthquake on January 1 that destroyed buildings, triggered landslides, and ignited a large fire. Reports from The Japan Times and NHK confirm that six fatalities have been recorded—five in Wajima and one in nearby Suzu. At least eight individuals remain missing, including a 14-year-old junior high school girl.
Floodwaters have overwhelmed emergency housing intended for those displaced by the earthquake, which claimed at least 374 lives, as reported by the Ishikawa regional government. Some of the individuals currently unaccounted for are believed to be workers involved in construction projects related to earthquake recovery.
As of Monday, approximately 4,000 households were without power due to heavy rainfall, according to the Hokuriku Electric Power Company. More than 100 areas in the region remain isolated after landslides obstructed roads. Akemi Yamashita, a 54-year-old resident of Wajima, recounted to AFP her harrowing experience driving on Saturday when water surged into the street, quickly rising to half the height of her car. She shared that conversations with fellow residents revealed their heartbreak over living in a city devastated by the earthquake and floods, which she described as “like something from a movie.”
Military personnel have been deployed to assist rescue workers as tens of thousands of residents were urged to evacuate due to severe weather. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi addressed reporters, stating, “This heavy rain is impacting an area that has already suffered extensive damage from the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Many people must be extremely concerned.”
In addition to the affected region, heavy rainfall has also been reported in the northern prefectures of Niigata and Yamagata, raising concerns about flooding and further damage, which has led to the suspension of train services in those areas.
