Multitudes of Japanese residents to vacate their residences
Heavy Rain and Landslides Cause Chaos in Southern Japan
Southern Japan, particularly the Kyushu region including Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Fukuoka prefectures, has been hit hard by heavy rainfall and landslides, leading to widespread flooding, damage, and evacuations. Over 3 million people are under evacuation advisories, with hundreds of thousands under urgent warnings to evacuate immediately due to the high risk of landslides and floods.
Key details about the affected areas and advisories:
- In Kagoshima Prefecture, over 500 mm of rainfall has caused severe flooding and landslides, displacing approximately 124,000 people. Evacuation orders and advisories cover large populations in Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Akita prefectures.
- The Kyushu region, including Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki, is facing record-breaking rain. For example, Tamana city (Kumamoto) received 37 cm within six hours, saturating slopes and causing dangerous landslides. Local governments have issued Level 4 alerts, the highest evacuation urgency, ordering tens of thousands of residents in cities like Karatsu to evacuate immediately.
- Emergency measures include rescue operations, road and transport closures (flights and trains canceled or delayed), and public safety announcements. Infrastructure has been overwhelmed with rivers overflowing and road networks flooded or damaged.
- Casualties reported include several deaths, injuries, and missing persons due to landslides and floods. As of 14 August 2025, there were at least 5 deaths and dozens injured, with hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged.
- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued its highest-level rain alerts ("red warnings") across multiple prefectures, urging residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to evacuate without delay to avoid landslide and flood danger.
- Forecasts indicate that heavy rain may continue for several days after mid-August, maintaining high risks of additional flooding and landslides. Authorities advise people to seek shelter in sturdy buildings and remain vigilant overnight and following days.
In the city of Kosa, Kumamoto, a man was reported missing on Monday after being swept away by a landslide while standing by his car. The incident occurred in the city of Kosa, Kumamoto prefecture. The man's wife and their two children, who were in the car at the time, were unharmed. The disaster management agency has issued evacuation advisories and warnings for an additional 384,000 residents in southwestern Japan, primarily in Kumamoto. Japan's weather agency warned that the situation is life-threatening.
Even in areas where disasters are not usually expected, the utmost vigilance is required. The authorities emphasize immediate evacuation in high-risk zones due to ongoing extreme rainfall and unstable ground conditions. Millions of people in Japan have been advised to evacuate their homes due to heavy rainfall and impending landslides.
The Commission, in response to the ongoing weather-related disasters in Japan, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, due to the potential dangers of floodwaters containing radioactive materials.
Despite the weather-forecasting efforts by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the heavy rain and risk of landslides continue to pose a threat to millions of people in various prefectures across Japan, necessitating continuous updates and vigilance from weather-forecasting services.
