China News Service, July 13 (Xinhua) reported that in the past week, continuous rainstorms have caused flooding of rivers, collapsed mountains and flooded houses in many places in Japan. As of 12:00 noon on the 13th local time, this heavy rain had caused at least 72 people in Kumamoto Prefecture and other places to be killed, and 13 people were missing. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the disaster area on the same day.
On July 9, local time, in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, floods caused by heavy rain swept through Kumamoto Prefecture, and a quarry was destroyed.
According to reports, the disaster was mainly concentrated in Kyushu. According to statistics from the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK), 64 people in Kumamoto Prefecture are now known to have died. One of the nursing homes, the "Qianshouyuan", was flooded due to flooding in the river. A total of 14 elderly people were killed. Two deaths in Fukuoka, one death in Oita, one death in Nagasaki, two deaths in Ehime, one death in Shizuoka, and one death in Nagano.
The report said that the rescue team composed of the police, fire department and self-defense force is still searching for the missing people.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, from the evening of the 13th to the 14th in the western Japan region and the 14th in the eastern Japan region, heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning will occur in some areas, with an hourly rainfall of more than 50 mm. Heavy rain will come again. The Meteorological Agency reminds people to continue to be vigilant and pay attention to geological disasters.
On the morning of the 13th local time, Abe took a flight to the disaster area to pray for the victims and promised to assist the local government in reconstruction.
According to reports, Abe first arrived at the nursing home "Qianshouyuan" to visit. He stood in front of the facility where mud and rubble remained, and prayed in silence for the victims. Abe said that he will do his utmost to assist local reconstruction, and will also provide assistance in providing emergency shelters for people and dispatching assistance staff to station in. "The central government will work with local authorities to respond to disasters."
According to reports, Abe expects to visit the people in the shelter in Hitoshi City, another hard-hit area on the afternoon of the 13th, and exchange views with the Mayor Hayato Matsuoka on the future countermeasures.