At least six people died and ten are missing in Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, after heavy rainfall on Sunday caused further damage to an area already affected by a powerful earthquake that hit on January 1, Japan’s news agency reported.
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake had a significant impact on the ground in various locations within the prefecture. The already loosened ground, in combination with the recent precipitation, has elevated the risk of further landslides, according to the agency.
The recent record rainfall has caused flooding in nearly two dozen rivers, triggering landslides and isolating over 100 communities.
Rescue operations continue to find the missing people. The two deceased bodies were located near a tunnel in Wajima that was damaged by the January earthquake and was undergoing repair. Some workers at the site were rescued.
An extratropical depression, formed from Typhoon Pulasan, moved northeast over the Sea of Japan, resulting in heavy precipitation across a vast area of the country, the agency reported.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has directed government officials to closely monitor the damage and take appropriate action following local authorities’ needs, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Hayashi also stated that Kishida is scheduled to return to Japan from the United States on Tuesday.