The Noto Peninsula in Japan is grappling with a new disaster, as torrential rains have caused widespread flooding and claimed at least six lives. The region is still recovering from a devastating magnitude-7.5 earthquake that occurred just nine months ago, Al Jazeera reports.
Over the weekend, the area was hit with record rainfall, exceeding 540 millimeters (21 inches) in Wajima city over 72 hours. The floods inundated emergency housing built for earthquake survivors, and damaged infrastructure still under repair.
Authorities have confirmed six deaths, five in Wajima and one in Suzu. At least eight individuals remain missing, including a 14-year-old schoolgirl. Among the missing are workers on earthquake-related construction projects.
The disaster has compounded the woes of a region already reeling from the January earthquake, which killed at least 374 people and left thousands displaced. The latest rains have also disrupted power supply, with over 4,000 households facing outages.
Landslides triggered by the heavy rains have blocked roads, isolating more than 100 areas. Military personnel have been deployed to assist rescue efforts as tens of thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate.
Adjacent prefectures of Niigata and Yamagata are also experiencing heavy rains, raising concerns of potential flooding and damage. Train services in the region have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
