Japanese authorities have ordered tens of thousands to evacuate the quake-affected Ishikawa region on Saturday, as weather forecasts predict significant flooding from heavy rainfall. Approximately 18,000 residents in Wajima and an additional 12,000 in Suzu are being urged to seek shelter in Ishikawa prefecture on Honshu island.
Moreover, another 16,000 individuals in the neighboring Niigata and Yamagata prefectures have also been advised to evacuate, according to AFP news agency. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a heavy rain emergency, the highest level of alert, for parts of the affected area.
Footage from NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, shows streets in Wajima submerged, with floodwaters reaching the wheels and bumpers of parked vehicles. Officials reported that 12 rivers in the region have overflowed, with three rivers in Ishikawa inundating nearby communities. One house was reportedly affected by a landslide, as reported by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, although further details were not provided.
Wajima and Suzu, located on the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, were previously impacted by a devastating earthquake on New Year’s Day that resulted in at least 236 fatalities.
The area is still in recovery from the magnitude 7.5 quake that caused extensive damage, toppling buildings, destroying roads, and igniting major fires. Japan has been experiencing unprecedented rainfall in various regions in recent years, leading to floods and landslides that have caused casualties.