Japan’s weather agency on Saturday continued to urge people to exercise maximum caution over the risk of landslides caused by heavy rain on Yakushima Island in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, after temporarily issuing its highest-level emergency warning.
The Japan Meteorological Agency lowered the landslide warning from Level 5, the highest level, to Level 4 before noon. At Level 4, residents in affected areas are still urged to evacuate, Kyodo reported.
In Onoaida, on Yakushima Island, 490.5 millimeters of rain fell within 24 hours, setting a record for the area. Yakushima is a popular tourist destination known for its natural environment, including ancient cedar trees.
“The rain was so heavy that it was impossible to drive,” Yakushima town official Takeshi Terada said.
About 20 households in the town were affected by a temporary power outage early Saturday, according to Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co. However, police and the fire department had received no reports of major damage.
Japan has experienced heavy rainfall in various parts of the country in recent weeks. Saturday’s emergency landslide warning followed a similar warning issued for several municipalities in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, in August, when heavy rain caused flooding that left 13 people dead.
Due to Typhoon Krovanh and a weather front, low-lying areas in western Japan could face flooding, while rivers may swell or overflow.
The weather agency forecast up to 200 millimeters of rain for southern Kyushu, including Kagoshima, during the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Sunday.