japan :- A stationary front is bringing heavy rain to areas from the Kyushu to Tokai and Hokuriku regions. Authorities are calling on residents, especially in western to eastern Japan, to be alert for possible landslides, river flooding and inundation of low-lying areas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says moist air is flowing into the front over the Japanese archipelago, causing intermittent heavy rain in wide areas of western to central Japan.
Alerts for landsides have been issued for parts of Saga, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Hiroshima, Tokushima, Osaka and Wakayama prefectures in western Japan.
Parts of western to eastern Japan have had record amounts of rain. The cities of Saga and Ureshino in Saga Prefecture have received rainfall of more than half their annual average in less than a week.
Six people have died, four are missing and 11 have been injured due to the continuing heavy rain.
Large amounts of water have accumulated in the soil in many areas, especially in the Kyushu region and the prefectures of Hiroshima and Gifu. In such areas, landsides, river flooding and inundation in low-lying locations may occur even with small amounts of more rain.
Residents are advised to check evacuation information and landslide alerts and move to safe places before conditions worsen.
Heavy rain may fall in wide areas across Japan in the coming days.
The expected maximum rainfall in the 24 hours through Wednesday evening is:
250 millimeters in Shikoku,
200 millimeters in Chugoku and Tokai,
180 millimeters in southern Kyushu and Kinki,
120 millimeters in northern Kyushu, Kanto-Koshin, Tohoku and Hokkaido, and
100 millimeters in Hokuriku.
The front is expected to gradually weaken from around Thursday. But landslides or other disasters could occur in areas already hit by heavy rain.
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