Record rainfall in Japan's earthquake-hit Noto region has killed at least one person By Reuters
RECORD RAINFALL in central Japan's Noto region, still recovering from a massive New Year's earthquake, killed at least one person on Saturday, prompted tens of thousands to evacuate and left more than 6,000 homes without power.
Seven people, including four who worked on earthquake relief, were missing, and calls for rescue were overwhelming the fire department, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Hourly rainfall reached a record 121 mm (4.8 inches) on Saturday morning in Wajima, while neighboring Suzu received 84.5 mm per hour, also the highest.
TV footage showed brown floodwaters turning roads into rivers in Wajima, with cars half submerged.
Eiichi Higashi, a resident of Wajima who took shelter in an evacuation center in the city, told NHK that people were rushing to the center as it was getting dark.
“It is difficult to see people living in temporary houses after losing their houses due to the earthquake coming to another shelter because of the rain,” said Higashi.
Soldiers have been sent to the region to carry out rescue operations along with police and firefighters, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.
“This is a heavy rain in this area that caused a lot of damage due to the earthquake in the Noto peninsula. There must be many people who are very worried,” said Hayashi.
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed more than 300 people in Suzu, Wajima and surrounding areas.
