Up to 30,000 residents in central Japan have been ordered to evacuate due to severe flooding risks caused by continuous heavy rainfall.
The evacuation orders cover around 18,000 people in Wajima and another 12,000 in Suzu, both located in Ishikawa prefecture on Honshu island.
Images shared by Kyodo News show entire streets in Wajima submerged in water, underscoring the severity of the situation.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a heavy rain emergency—the highest alert level—across parts of the prefecture, highlighting the urgency of the threat.
Government officials, as reported by NHK, noted that twelve rivers in Ishikawa prefecture have breached their banks, raising further concerns about the potential for widespread flooding.
This crisis comes as the region is still recovering from a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck earlier this year on New Year’s Day.
Authorities are urging residents to seek shelter and take necessary precautions as they prepare for the potential impact of the floods.
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