Torrential Rain Ravages Japan: 380,000 Advised to Evacuate as Flood Risk Persists

Japanese authorities mounted rescue and evacuation operations across Ishikawa and Toyama on Thursday after torrential rain triggered flooding, overflowing rivers, landslides and road disruption.

More than 380,000 people were advised to move to safer locations as the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a Level 5 heavy-rain warning for parts of both prefectures. The highest warning indicated that a major disaster was likely or imminent, prompting immediate safety measures.

In Himi, Toyama, emergency workers used rubber boats to rescue residents stranded inside flooded homes, wading through knee-deep water. Vehicles were stranded or abandoned on inundated roads. In Ishikawa, flooding isolated 270 homes across three municipalities, while landslides forced road closures.

Authorities monitored overflowing rivers and dangerous low-lying areas, while local officials continued issuing evacuation and safety guidance. The heavy rain also caused power outages affecting more than 1,000 homes across Ishikawa and Toyama. No deaths or injuries were reported among stranded residents at that time.

The extreme rainfall was intensified by a stationary front near Honshu, with warm, moist air flowing toward it and cold air aloft creating unstable atmospheric conditions. Linear rainbands repeatedly developed over the Hokuriku region, producing exceptionally intense downpours. Some areas recorded more than 150 millimetres in three hours.

The JMA later downgraded the Level 5 warning to Level 3 as rainfall temporarily weakened. However, officials stressed that the danger had not passed. The agency forecast additional heavy rain through Friday morning, with up to 20 centimetres expected in the Kaga and Noto areas. Forecasts indicated up to 200 millimetres across Hokuriku through Friday.

Because the ground is already saturated, further rainfall could quickly raise river levels and trigger renewed flooding, particularly in low-lying areas. The risk of landslides also remains high on unstable slopes. Authorities urged residents to monitor evacuation instructions, avoid flooded roads and rivers, and seek safer ground if conditions deteriorate.

Emergency teams therefore remain on alert, with the immediate priority being rescue, evacuation and preventing casualties as renewed rain threatens vulnerable communities.