Japan and South Korea Hit by Extreme Rainfall; 13 Dead in Japan

Japan and South Korea were battered by extreme rainfall late last week and into this week, leading to widespread disruption and loss of life. In Japan's Chiba prefecture, the city of Chiba recorded a staggering 115mm of rain in a single hour, a new record, while the nearby city of Sakura also broke its hourly rainfall record. Authorities issued a level five emergency warning, the highest alert, for heavy rain, prompting evacuations for over 100,000 households. The deluge left more than 20,000 homes without power and stranded thousands at Tokyo's Narita airport. Tragically, 13 people have been confirmed dead, with at least three found in their vehicles. The Japan Meteorological Agency described the event as an "unprecedented level" of heavy rain, though the region is accustomed to monsoon seasons. Meanwhile, South Korea's city of Geoje received over 124.5mm of rain in one hour early on August 17, with more than 400mm falling overnight. The extreme weather extends across the Pacific, with Hurricane Lala passing Hawaii as a Category 1 storm before strengthening to Category 4. Another system, Tropical Storm Saudel, is forecast to intensify and potentially make landfall on the Northern Mariana Islands before heading towards Japan's Okinawa prefecture.

“

unprecedented level