Persistent downpours in the southern regions of Japan lead to flooding and landslides, with multiple individuals reported as missing due to these disasters.
Heavy Rain and Flooding Disrupt Southwestern Japan During Buddhist Holiday Week
Japan's southern main island of Kyushu, particularly Kumamoto Prefecture, was hit by torrential rain and severe flooding around August 10–11, 2025, causing widespread disruption during the Buddhist "bon" holiday week.
The heavy rain was due to a low-pressure system that dumped more rain in the northern parts of Kyushu, leading to flooding, landslides, and road closures. As a result, over 3 million people in southwestern Kyushu, including Kumamoto, were under evacuation advisories and warnings, with about 384,000 residents facing the highest-level evacuation warning.
The heavy rain triggered floods that submerged houses and vehicles, flooded roads, and trapped residents requiring emergency assistance. Kumamoto City reported flooding on at least 21 roads, and multiple evacuation centers were opened with thousands of residents relocated.
Several people went missing due to the floods and landslides. In particular, two people in their 60s were swept away by the flooded Saigo River, and another person was reported missing after being swept away near Tamana City. A man went missing after a landslide hit his home in Kosa Town while his family inside a vehicle was rescued safely. Rescue teams continue to search for these missing individuals.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba urged residents to use maximum caution and prioritize actions to save their lives. Television footage showed muddy water gushing down, carrying broken trees and branches, and residents wading through knee-deep floodwater.
The heavy rain impacted travel, with bullet trains connecting Kagoshima and Hakata in northern Kyushu, as well as local train services, suspended Monday morning. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the highest-level warning in Kumamoto, and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency issued evacuation advisories to tens of thousands of people in Kumamoto and six other prefectures in the region.
Despite the disruptions, services were partially resumed in areas where the rain subsided. However, no new information about the number of missing people or those injured, the ongoing search and rescue operations, or the highest-level warning issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency was available at the time of writing.
[1] NHK World [2] Kyodo News [3] Japan Today [4] Mainichi Shimbun [5] Asahi Shimbun
[1] In Seattle, the government issued serious weather alerts on August 11, 2025, due to heavy rain and flooding, similar to the disaster in southwestern Japan. [2] The city's authorities urged residents to be cautious and stay updated on the situation, as the rain threatened to cause widespread flooding and damage.
