Record-Breaking Torrential Rain Batters Kumamoto, Forcing 1,600 to Evacuate | WPN World People News

On the 11th, Japan’s Kyushu region was hit by an unusually severe rainstorm, with Kumamoto Prefecture’s Tamana City recording more than 370 millimeters of rainfall in just six hours — the highest total ever observed in the area. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued an emergency heavy rain special warning, rapidly expanding the alert zone to Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and surrounding areas. Authorities urged residents to take the highest level of evacuation precautions, warning that “there is an imminent threat to life.” Kumamoto Prefecture’s Disaster Response Headquarters was established in the early hours of the 11th, and as of 11 a.m., 743 households — a total of 1,694 people — had been evacuated. Multiple urban roads were submerged, cars stranded, buildings inundated, and basement flooding widely reported. Even the famous Shimotori covered shopping street was engulfed by floodwaters.

The torrential downpour triggered multiple mudslides and flash floods, leaving at least one person dead and several others missing. In Kōsa Town, a vehicle carrying evacuees was struck by a landslide — a mother and her two children were rescued, but the father remains missing. In Misato Town, a home was buried by debris, trapping residents who remained conscious. Tamana City also received reports of people being swept away by floodwaters. Meanwhile, in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, the Saigo River overflowed, sweeping away a man and a woman in their 60s, with search operations still underway. Rescue efforts have been hampered by blocked roads, making evacuation extremely difficult.

The JMA reported the formation of linear rainbands over Kumamoto and Nagasaki, with heavy rains expected to continue through the 12th. Multiple rivers in northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture have already exceeded flood danger levels, and a level-3 equivalent flood warning has been issued for the Nibo River in Yamaguchi City. JR Kyushu announced the suspension of all Shinkansen services on the 11th, leaving large numbers of passengers stranded at stations. The JMA urged residents in hillside, riverside, and low-lying areas to evacuate immediately. If roads are impassable, they advised moving to higher floors in nearby buildings and taking protective measures to maximize safety. Confronted with yet another extreme weather disaster, Japanese society is once again facing a severe test.