Travel

Heavy rain lashes Sea of Japan coast

Aug 05 (NHK) - Officials are warning of more rain on Friday after record rainfall hit parts of the Japanese region of Hokuriku and Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures from Wednesday through Thursday, causing flooding and landslides. They are urging vigilance over landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a front accompanied by a low pressure system and a cold air mass are making atmospheric conditions unstable. Rain clouds are flowing into the Hokuriku and Kansai regions.

Officials have issued alerts for record hourly rainfall for Fukui and Shiga Prefectures.

An area around the town of Minamiechizen in Fukui is estimated to have had hourly rainfall of about 80 millimeters early on Friday.

One area in Nagahama City in Shiga Prefecture had an estimated 90 millimeters of rain during the hour through 6:30 a.m. on Friday.

The heavy rain is making landslides more likely in the prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga and Gifu. Officials have issued mudslide alerts for some parts of those areas.

Intermittent downpours battered Ishikawa and Fukui on Thursday, causing flooding and landslides.

Hakusan City in Ishikawa Prefecture had rainfall of 397 millimeters during the 24-hour period through 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The city of Ono in Fukui Prefecture had 211 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours through 11:30 p.m. Both amounts are the biggest ever recorded in those areas.

Heavy rain also hit Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures, causing the Mogami River to overflow.

Atmospheric conditions will remain very unstable on Friday, and localized downpours are possible in the Tokai and Hokuriku regions.

Rainfall during the 24-hour period through Saturday morning is expected to be as much as 120 millimeters in Hokuriku, and 100 millimeters in Tokai.

The ground has loosened and levees have been damaged in areas hit by the heavy rain.

Weather officials are urging vigilance over landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, as well as lightning strikes, gusty winds and hail.

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