Japan Issues Highest Landslide Alert as Heavy Rain Hits the South

Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued its highest alert for possible landslides on Yakushima island as torrential rain struck Kagoshima prefecture in the country’s south.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the rainfall as unprecedented and warned that a disaster may already have occurred in areas covered by landslide alerts. She urged residents to act early rather than wait for official instructions if they felt even the slightest danger.

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This is unprecedented torrential rain, and particularly in areas under landslide and similar warnings, there is an extremely high probability that some kind of disaster may already have occurred.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that the rain resulted from the combination of an autumn front and Tropical Storm Krovanh, which was positioned over Japan’s southern islands. Authorities warned that rivers could overflow and that flat areas could flood.

No incidents had been reported in the area at the time of the report, but officials asked residents to take extreme precautions and prioritize protecting their lives through early evacuation.

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If you feel the slightest danger, do not be afraid of making a mistake. Take the initiative to evacuate early at your own decision, prioritizing actions to protect your own life.