Heavy rainfalls struck Japan: Over 1 million people affected

More than 1 million people are advised to evacuate their residences in Japanese southwestern Kyushu Island after heavy rainfalls have caused floods and landslides and the situation may deteriorate in the next days.

Until now, about 6,000 people have already evacuated their houses in Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima district, but officials have already warned 1.21 million people more in western Japan districts to abandon their households as landslides and floods may struck those regions.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the precipitation reached a record-high level in the regions of Kirishima and Hioki on Monday, June 1, 2019.

Landsliding has already affected some areas and caused significant damage. Route 3, a major highway on the island of Kyushu, was struck by a landslide and is temporarily closed. Train stations in Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo were also closed after being hit by another slide. Moreover, a 78-year-old woman was buried under the ground after a mudslide hit her house. She was later rescued but, unfortunately, some hours later, she passed away.

JMA warned that the rainfalls may continue for 2-3 more days. More floods and landslides will probably strike the western regions of Japan. 

The extreme weather is caused as a warm south air hits a weather front that stretches all the way from east China Sea to west Japan.