More torrential rain forecast to pound southwestern Japan | NHK WORLD

More torrential rain forecast to pound southwestern Japan

Japanese weather officials are urging people in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima to stay on high alert as the risk of landslides remains extremely high after record rainfall hit the prefecture.

From Sunday, heavy rain is forecast across wide regions from Okinawa and Amami in the southwest to Tohoku along the Pacific in the northeast. The rain will likely continue through Thursday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says rain clouds have been developing since Friday night over southern Kyushu and other areas due to an autumn rain front near the southern coast of the main island of Honshu as well as Tropical Storm Krovanh.

On Saturday, the agency issued a Level 5 Emergency Warning for landslides for the town of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture lasting from dawn until shortly before noon.

Record rain pounded various areas. In the 48-hour period through 4:30 p.m., rainfall measured 576.5 millimeters in the town's Onoaida district, the highest since record-keeping began.

People are advised to remain extremely vigilant and stay in safe places, as the ground has been saturated by recent heavy rains.

Localized torrential downpours were forecast for southern Kyushu, Okinawa and Amami on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Krovanh, which is moving south near the main island of Okinawa.

From Sunday, a tropical depression in the country's south is expected to move north and intensify the rain front.

Extremely heavy rain or heavy rain accompanied by thunder is likely in the Nansei Islands as well as wide regions along the Pacific coast from Tohoku to Kyushu.

The risk of disaster could rise with additional rain in areas that have already received heavy rainfall.

Downpours are also expected in the southern Pacific side of the Tohoku region as well as the Kanto region, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides.

Authorities are calling on people to keep updated with the latest weather information to ensure their safety. They are urging them to evacuate promptly from places at risk of disaster and to avoid flooded roads.