Three of them overflowed and floodwaters reached nearby communities, an official said, adding that damage to buildings and infrastructure was being assessed. One person was missing in Wajima, where several buildings were flooded and roads were blocked by landslides, the department said in a statement. At least one house was hit by a landslide, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, which did not provide further details.
Record rainfall
The Japan Meteorological Agency has put Ishikawa Prefecture on high alert, warning of a “deadly” hazard. Satoshi Sugimoto, a forecaster at the agency, reported “unprecedented heavy rain.” In images broadcast by public broadcaster NHK, a street in Wajima can be seen submerged. Wajima and Suzu were among the cities worst hit by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake on January 1, which killed at least 236 people in central Japan.
