Death toll in western Japan rain deluge tops 120
The death toll from days of torrential rain and landslides in western Japan topped 120 on Monday, with scores still missing, in what has been recognised by the government as a “serious disaster”.
Some 123 people are confirmed dead, two are in cardiac arrest and another 61 are unaccounted for, according to a tally by public broadcaster NHK at 10pm local time (1pm Fiji time). Tens of thousands remain displaced. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called off his eight-day trip to Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt that was to begin from Wednesday to oversee the recovery response for Japan’s worst flood disaster since 1983.
Dozens are believed to still be stranded inside homes with access roads having been cut off by flooding, local media reported Monday, with shell-shocked residents bracing for further bad news. Though the skies have cleared, the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that the threat of mudslides still remains high.
Torrential rain alerts have been replaced by heatstroke advisories, with temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius in several areas.
Over 74,000 personnel, including police officers, firefighters and Self-Defence Force soldiers, have been tapped in a massive searchand-rescue operation, with news channels showing dramatic footage of residents, stranded on rooftops, being airlifted to safety. Personnel have been tasked with distributing food and water, and are setting up temporary toilets and installing air-conditioners at evacuation centres in the worsthit areas.