Japan Hit by Disaster, Immediately Evacuates 380,000 Residents

Heavy rain that triggered flash floods and landslides paralysed areas of Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures in north-central Japan on Thursday. The extreme weather disaster closed many roads and trapped residents inside their flooded homes and vehicles.

Citing Channel News Asia (CNA) on Friday (27/8/2026), the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 5 heavy rain warning for parts of Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures. The agency predicted rainfall could exceed 20 centimetres (7.8 inches) in the Kaga and Noto areas by Friday morning, prompting local authorities to firmly urge more than 380,000 residents to seek shelter on higher ground immediately.

Footage from public broadcaster NHK showed dramatic rescue moments in Himi city, Toyama prefecture. Rescue workers were seen evacuating residents using rubber boats while wading through knee-deep floodwater, with a number of vehicles that had broken down on the roads abandoned by their owners.

Similar devastation also struck Ishikawa prefecture, west of Toyama. A total of 270 homes in three municipalities were reported to have been inundated, along with landslides that cut off several road access points. In addition, Hokuriku Electric Power Co recorded power outages affecting more than 1,000 homes in Toyama and Ishikawa due to the extreme weather.

Meanwhile, Japanese Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed the severity of the flash floods that paralysed both regions, although there were no reports of physical casualties among local residents. “Several rivers in the two prefectures have overflowed and flooded many homes without any reports of injuries,” he said.

This tragedy further compounds the natural disaster grief in the island nation. Earlier this month, heavy rainfall and severe flooding also submerged areas of Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, claiming at least 13 lives.