Nearly 200,000 residents in western Japan were urged to evacuate on Saturday as heavy rains, driven by the remnants of tropical storm Kong-rey, heightened risks of landslides and floods.
Local authorities and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued warnings about severe weather conditions across the region.
The storm, previously classified as a typhoon, has been downgraded to an extratropical low-pressure system. However, its lingering effects continued to disrupt daily life.
According to the JMA, “warm, moist air… was causing heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in western Japan,” exacerbating the situation.
Matsuyama issued the highest-level evacuation warning for 189,552 residents in 10 districts, urging them to take immediate action to secure their safety. While evacuation was not mandatory, such a warning signals that disaster conditions are already unfolding.
The adverse weather also affected transportation, with Shinkansen bullet trains briefly suspended between Tokyo and the southern Fukuoka region. Services resumed later but faced delays.
Over 189,000 residents in Matsuyama were urged to evacuate due to extreme weather risks.The storm’s devastating impact began earlier in the week, when Kong-rey struck Taiwan, marking one of the most severe storms the island has seen in decades.
It claimed at least three lives, injured 690 people, and caused widespread power outages. Over 950,000 households lost power, with 27,781 still waiting for restoration by Saturday.
Scientists attribute the intensifying effects of storms like Kong-rey to human-driven climate change. A warming atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall events and increasing risks of natural disasters such as floods and landslides.
Forecasters cautioned that western Japan would remain vulnerable through Saturday, with risks extending to eastern Japan by Sunday. Residents were advised to stay alert and prepared for potential emergencies.
As climate change continues to amplify extreme weather events worldwide, Kong-rey serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.