Japan Self-Defense Forces and police officers handle an inflatable boat to join rescue operations at a nursing home following heavy rain in Kuma village, Kumamoto prefecture, on July 5, 2020. (Photo: Bloomberg/Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images)
At least 37 people have been killed and dozens more are feared dead in Japan after flooding and landslides devastated the areas of Kumamoto and Kagoshima this weekend. Images of the affected regions depict severe property damage, capturing flooded streets, demolished buildings and dozens of destroyed homes.
Flood and landslide warnings remain in effect throughout southern Japan as torrential rains are forecasted to continue into Tuesday.
Kuma Village in Kumamoto saw a record-breaking 83.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour on Saturday morning, according to the meteorological agency, while Kanoya city in Kagoshima had 109.5 mm in an hour on Monday — its highest ever.
On Saturday, Japan's Meteorological Agency issued a warning calling for unprecedented rainfall in Kyushu, urging residents to take "maximum caution" in preparation for the extreme weather. At least 270,000 residents were told to evacuate across the southern region of Japan, where search and rescue operations are now ongoing.
According to Japan's Self Defense Forces, rescue efforts have been complicated by conditions on the ground, with flooding and landslides cutting off contact to hundreds of communities in the highly-mountainous region. Speaking at a press conference Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that over 800 people had been rescued so far by emergency services.
According to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency, thousands of households have been isolated and 20,000 firefighters are currently on the ground trying to reach them. Authorities were using 28 helicopters, four planes and two search ships to survey the area Monday.
Japan is currently in the middle of its annual rainy season which frequently delivers deadly floods and landslides, according to reporting by Al Jazeera.
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