Japan's Kagoshima city evacuates 600,000 residents due to heavy rains

Nearly 600,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in the Japan's southern city of Kagoshima city, as heavy rains continue to drench southwestern the country.
July 03, 2019 | 09:45

Japan's Kagoshima city evacuates 600,000 residents due to heavy rains

Map from the Japan Meteorological Agency showing Kyushu island being put on red alert for heavy rain.

Kagoshima city on Wednesday (Jul 3) ordered its nearly 600,000 residents to take shelter in evacuation centres and other safe areas as torrential rains threatened landslides and other damage, said public broadcaster NHK.

About 5.000 foreign residents live in this city.

About 900mm of rain has fallen on the southernmost main island of Kyushu, where Kagoshima is located, since late June, NHK said. Heavy rain was forecast to continue into Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

More than 200 people were killed in western Japan last July, when prolonged heavy rain triggered landslides and floods.

VNF/Reuters