Noto Region Hit with Floods, Landslides and Heavy Rains

On September 21, Ishikawa Prefecture's Noto Peninsula region in central Japan experienced record rainfall. This is the same region that was shaken by a series of large earthquakes on New Year's Day. The result was flooding, blackouts in thousands of households, landslides, and loss of human life.

The Japan Meteorological Agency called for a state of high alert due to "unprecedented" rainfall at levels unseen since recordkeeping started. Wajima and Suzu were two of the main cities affected in the region. Respectively, they experienced over 540 and 400 millimeters of rainfall in 72 hours. 

The extreme weather caused several rivers to overflow and landslides hit several areas. As of this publication, one person has been confirmed dead and ten are unaccounted for, according to Jiji Press News Agency. 

On September 22, the warning was lowered, but local authorities continued to call for caution. Rain continued to batter the region in the early hours of the morning. 

Highest Level of Alert for Heavy Rain

On September 21 the Ministry of Transport issued a special rain warning, the highest level of alert. The same day, local media showed images of flooding in the neighborhood around the Suzu City office. An overflowing river also caught cars in its floodwaters. 

In Wajima, the force of floodwaters from the Tsukada River washed away four people living in a house. All four were missing as of September 22. 

Sources on the ground told JAPAN Forward that on the evening of September 21, floods and landslides affected road access, isolating some villages.

The unusual weather conditions hit the area during a long weekend celebrating the autumn equinox in Japan. It disrupted many travelers who had hoped to enjoy the holiday on Monday, September 23. 

Trains serving the area were also affected through September 22, with partial interruptions and delays on lines serving the Noto Peninsula.

Rainfall and Recovery 

The Noto Peninsula is at the most northern part of Ishikawa prefecture. It is still recovering from the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit the area on January 1.

Much of the infrastructure such as roads and trains had returned to normal. However, signs of the quake are still visible. Cracked pavements, flattened houses, and partially restored buildings are a regular sight in the area. Therefore, the new round of extreme weather comes as a double punch.

Three of those missing are construction workers who were helping to rebuild a portion of the road near Wajima after the earthquake. They were missing after a landslide was reported outside a tunnel on the road. Four people were working on the site, but one person's safety has been confirmed.

The Sankei Shimbun reported that people in Wajima, Yamagoshimachi, were forced to evacuate from temporary housing set up following January 1. The newspaper quoted a 68-year-old man who evacuated on the morning of September 21. That was when the water level in Wajima was starting to increase. "The water was so strong, I was afraid I was going to be swept away," he told the local paper. 

There have also been reports of damage to the landscape in the area. For example, Noto is famous for the Senmaida rice fields along the coast. These were heavily affected by the earthquake, and a local organization has been working to rebuild the terrain to its splendor. The organization's X (Twitter)  account posted that the rainfall caused further damage, thereby delaying recovery efforts.

"The shock is almost greater than after the earthquake," read the post.

崩れてしまいました。ありとあらゆる所から用水が噴き出して、田んぼが水で溢れてしまっています。ここまでやっと直して来たのに、みんなでコツコツ積み上げてきたのに。地震の時よりショックが大きいです。#令和6年能登半島地震 #能登 #輪島 #白米千枚田 #愛耕会 pic.twitter.com/Qgs2znf17x

— 今日の白米千枚田@愛耕会 (@noto_senmaida) September 21, 2024

The Unfolding of a Rainfall

Following the alert issued on September 21, authorities warned that there was an increase risk of floodings and landslides in the areas around Wajima, Suzu and Noto. Therefore, they called for those in the area to ensure their safety. That advice included taking refuge in sturdy buildings and places higher than the second floor. 

As the day progressed, JAPAN Forward spoke with residents who said they were closing their businesses for the day. Evacuation centers also started accepting people looking for a safe place to stay. 

Some roads were cut off due to landslides, and local authorities were on the ground redirecting traffic. Japan's Self-Defense Forces posted on X (former Twitter). They have been dispatched to the region for ongoing search and rescue efforts.  

【#石川県 における人命救助に係る #災害派遣 】
本日１０時２９分、石川県知事から陸上自衛隊第１４普通科連隊長（金沢）に対し、豪雨のための人命捜索救助活動等に係る災害派遣要請があり、同時刻受理しました。… pic.twitter.com/umvtnUmPVU

— 防衛省統合幕僚監部 (@jointstaffpa) September 21, 2024

PM Kishida in the United States

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida posted comments on X expressing his condolences on the casualty.He added that he was monitoring the situation.

"I've just personally spoken to Chief Cabinet Secretary [Yoshimasa] Hayashi and have directed him to help support evacuees," he said. Kishida added that the government would be taking account of the damage from the disaster.

米国に到着しました。
石川県の大雨で被害に遭われた方に心からお悔やみとお見舞いを申し上げます。
私自身、林官房長官に電話し、避難支援や災害対応の指示をしました。災害状況の報告も随時受けています。
引き続き、林官房長官、松村防災大臣を中心に政府を挙げて対応してまいります。

— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) September 21, 2024

PM Kishida landed in the United States for an official visit on September 21. Just before leaving on September 19, he visited Wajima. However, that was a few days before the heavy rainfall began.

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Author: Arielle Busetto