Japan weather agency warns of landslides after heavy rain south of Tokyo

Japan’s weather agency urged maximum vigilance on Niijima Island, south of Tokyo, after record heavy rain raised the risk of landslides.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said 381 millimetres of rain fell on the island in the 24 hours through 5:20 a.m. on Sept. 7. Heavy rain also hit eastern Japan, including Tokyo, from the early hours of the day.

The agency issued a level 4 landslide alert, on a five-point scale, for parts of Chiba and Saitama prefectures near Tokyo and for central Fukushima Prefecture.

The government set up a liaison headquarters at the prime minister’s office to assess possible damage and coordinate emergency responses. The agency warned that more rain could fall across wide areas facing the Pacific as warm, damp air approached a rain front stretching along Honshu.