At least 4 dead as heavy rain hits eastern Japan

Oct 26, 2019 | News On Japan

Oct 26, 2019 (NHK) - Torrential rainfall from a low-pressure system has caused flooding and mudslides in eastern and northeastern Japan. Four people have been confirmed dead. At least two others are missing.

Officials of Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture say several rivers running through the city have burst their banks. The officials are calling on citizens to move to upper floors or higher places.

Authorities in Minamisoma City are gradually increasing the amount of water released from a dam to keep it from bursting. The discharge will raise the water levels of rivers downstream. Officials urge people to stay alert.

Rescue crews are searching for a missing woman at the sites of landslides in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.

A man and a woman have been confirmed dead.

More than 200 millimeters of rain fell over a 12-hour period in some areas of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures.

That's more rainfall than the average for the whole of October. Several rivers in Chiba flooded, inundating roads and residential areas.

A man was found unconscious in a car on a flooded road. He later died.

Another man was found dead near a light truck that stopped on a flooded road. And one other man is missing.

About 20 flights were redirected from Narita to other airports due to the severe weather on Friday.

Some train services in Chiba were suspended -- including a line connecting the airport with central Tokyo.

Some railway services will be suspended on Saturday, mainly in Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures.

Japan Railway officials say some services in Chiba Prefecture will be halted from the first train in areas where mud flowed onto the tracks or evacuation orders have been issued.

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