Suga Hints At 'extraordinary Disaster' Declaration

Suga hints at 'extraordinary disaster' declaration

Japan's chief cabinet secretary says the government may declare the torrential rain in Kyushu an "extraordinary disaster." That would enable victims to receive special support to rebuild their lives.

Suga Yoshihide spoke to reporters on Tuesday. He said heavy rain is forecast through Wednesday in wide parts of eastern and western Japan.

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32,000 Workers In Japan Fired Amid Pandemic

32,000 workers in Japan fired amid pandemic

Japan's labor ministry says over 32,000 workers have been discharged by their employers or faced contract nonrenewal amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ministry officials counted 32,348 such workers from the end of January through last Friday. Some 4,000 were added over the past week. The figures were taken from job placement agencies nationwide and other sources.

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Officials Still Urging Caution For Parts Of Kyushu

Officials still urging caution for parts of Kyushu

In Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu, the intense rain falling has left more than 50 people dead and about a dozen others missing.

Weather officials have switched a heavy rain emergency warning issued for three prefectures to a warning. But they're asking people to remain on alert for landslides and rivers spilling over their banks.

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Hospitals, Care Facilities Affected In Kyushu

Hospitals, care facilities affected in Kyushu

Torrential rains in Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu have left dozens of hospitals and other facilities inundated or without power or water.

Japan's health ministry says at least 22 hospitals in Kumamoto, Kagoshima and Fukuoka prefectures were flooded or had no electricity or water as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

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Officials Urge Continued Caution For Kyushu

Officials urge continued caution for Kyushu

The intense rain in Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu is leaving dozens of people dead. Weather officials have switched a heavy rain emergency warning issued for Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki prefectures to a warning. But they're asking people to remain on alert for landslides and rivers spilling over their banks.

Officials say Chikugo River overflowed in Hita City in Oita Prefecture on Tuesday morning. Residents are being asked to monitor evacuation information and secure their safety in case of a possible disaster. Further flooding may occur in several cities along the river.

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Weather Officials Urge Continued Caution

Weather officials urge continued caution

Torrential rains have been pounding Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu over the last four days. Dozens of people have been confirmed dead as the search for the missing continues.

Weather and land officials are asking people to remain on alert for flooding and landslides.

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Japan To Ease Restrictions On Events As Scheduled

Japan to ease restrictions on events as scheduled

The Japanese government plans to ease restrictions later this week on holding events based on experts' assessment of coronavirus infections in the country.

Members of the newly-established subcommittee on coronavirus measures met for the first time on Monday.

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Evacuation Orders Issued In Kyushu

Evacuation orders issued in Kyushu

Evacuation orders are in place for parts of Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Oita prefectures in Japan's southwestern Kyushu region due to heavy rainfall.

Officials are calling on residents to be on the alert for risks of floods and landslides.

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Heavy Rain Emergency Warning For Kyushu

Heavy rain emergency warning for Kyushu

Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a heavy rain emergency warning for parts of Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki prefectures in the country's southwestern region of Kyushu.

That's the agency's highest- level warning on the 5-step scale. Serious damage from landslides, flooding and other dangers is highly likely to have occurred already in those municipalities.

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Kyushu Hit By Flooding And Mudslides

Kyushu hit by flooding and mudslides

The heavy rain in the Kyushu region, southwestern Japan, started over the weekend, causing deadly flooding and mudslides.

Authorities in Kumamoto Prefecture say 49 people have been confirmed dead, one is without vital signs, and 11 others are missing.

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Covid - 19 Study: 30% Of Medical Staff Depressed

COVID-19 study: 30% of medical staff depressed

A survey has found that nearly 30 percent of healthcare workers in Japan who have had experience with coronavirus patients were depressed.

The Japanese Red Cross Medical Center conducted the survey in April and May, when infections were spreading around the country. About 850 doctors, nurses and clerks at the hospital responded.

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Japan Experts Discuss Plans For Coronavirus Tests

Japan experts discuss plans for coronavirus tests

Japan's newly established subcommittee on coronavirus measures has called for thorough testing of people with a high risk of having the pathogen.

The head of the government's subcommittee, Omi Shigeru, spoke at a news conference after the group's first meeting on Monday. Omi is also the chief of Japan Community Health care Organization.

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Tokyo Governor Plans To Create 'cdc'

Tokyo governor plans to create 'CDC'

Reelected Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says she will swiftly set up a Tokyo version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide people with accurate information on coronavirus infections.

Koike spoke to reporters on Monday after she won Sunday's gubernatorial election with more than 3.66 million votes -- the second highest figure in Tokyo election history.

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New Support Center Opens In Tokyo For Foreigners

New support center opens in Tokyo for foreigners

As the number of foreign workers in Japan increases, so does the amount of support they need to adjust, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic. And on Monday, the government opened a new consultation center aimed at providing a variety of resources under one roof.

The Foreign Residents Support Center brings together eight organizations including the Immigration Services Agency, the legal support center, and the employment security office.

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