More rain expected in disaster-hit areas

Oct 18, 2019 | News On Japan

Oct 18, 2019 (NHK) - More rain is forecast in the next few days across areas in eastern and northeastern Japan that were hit hard by Typhoon Hagibis. This could increase the risk of more flooded rivers and landslides in places already coping with record rainfall.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts rain over wide areas of eastern Japan, and in the northeastern Tohoku region, from Friday and Saturday, as a low-pressure system and a rain front approach. The rain may be quite heavy in some areas.

Total rainfall through late Saturday could reach up to 200 to 300 millimeters in the Izu islands south of Tokyo, 100 to 150 millimeters along the Pacific in Tohoku and the Kanto-Koshin area of eastern and central Japan, and 100 to 200 millimeters in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Record-breaking rains brought by Typhoon Hagibis caused levees to collapse along a number of rivers last weekend in eastern and northeastern Japan.

Only minor repair work has been done so far in most of the damaged areas, leaving them susceptible to flooding if there is more rain, even in small amounts.

The weather agency warns that torrential rains have softened the ground in many places in the eastern and northeastern regions, making them vulnerable to landslides.

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