360,000 Urged to Evacuate in Japan Floods

Torrential rains have battered Japan’s southern Kyushu Island, triggering severe floods and landslides that forced mass evacuations and brought local transport to a standstill.

Authorities have issued the highest level of weather warnings across parts of the region.

According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a powerful landslide struck a home in Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture, burying two individuals who were later rescued alive and transported to the hospital.

Evacuation orders have been issued for more than 360,000 residents in Kagoshima and neighboring Miyazaki Prefecture as rainfall continues to pose serious risks of further landslides and flash floods.

Television footage showed muddy waters surging through swollen rivers. In Kirishima City, floodwaters reached knee-level inside a commercial center, prompting emergency evacuations and temporary closures.

The extreme weather has paralyzed local transport networks, with rail and bus services suspended across the region. Dozens of domestic flights to and from Kagoshima have also been canceled due to safety concerns.

In response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government formed an emergency task force to coordinate relief and rescue operations. 

The prime minister assured citizens that the government would take all necessary measures to protect lives and ensure public safety.