Officials Urge Caution After Rains Trigger Flooding And Landslides
Weather officials have revised their highest-level emergency rain alert for Niigata Prefecture...to a warning. They are still urging people to watch for further potential hazards, with downpours forecast to continue across parts of the Hokuriku region.
In Niigata, over 500 millimeters of rain has fallen over the past 24 hours.
There are reports of significant flooding and landslides in the prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.
Weather officials are warning people in the city of Murakami to shelter at home or evacuate to a safer location.
They have also issued evacuation orders in five prefectures, affecting more than 200 thousand people.
In neighboring Yamagata Prefecture, people are also being told to stay vigilant.
Torrential rain has also been recorded further south and east.
Some parts of Japan could see as much as 250 millimeters over the next 24 hours.