Society

Heavy rain hitting northern Kyushu

Jul 21 (NHK) - Unstable atmospheric conditions caused by moist air flowing into a tropical storm are dumping heavy rain in some parts of western Japan, especially the northern Kyushu region.

Weather officials are calling on residents to be on the alert for landslides and flooding.

The Meteorological Agency says developed rain clouds are covering northern Kyushu as moist air flowing into tropical storm Danas, which has moved to the Korean Peninsula, made atmospheric conditions unstable.

During the one-hour period through 5 a.m. on Sunday, 64.5 millimeters of rain was recorded in Asakura city, Fukuoka Prefecture, and 54 millimeters of rain was recorded at the Saga airport.

Weather officials have issued a landslide alert for some parts of Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, and Hiroshima prefectures.

More than 50 millimeters of rain per hour could fall in some parts of western Japan through Sunday evening.

During the 24-hour period through Monday morning, the northern Kyushu and Shikoku regions could have as much as 150 millimeters of rain, and southern Kyushu could get as much as 120 millimeters of rain.

Weather officials are warning of landslides and swollen rivers, as well as lightning and gusts of wind.

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