Heavy rains over the weekend triggered severe floods and landslides in central Japan, especially in the Noto Peninsula, an area still recovering from a devastating earthquake earlier this year.

The torrential rainfall caused rivers to overflow, turning into dangerous torrents that swept away homes, blocked roads, and isolated several regions.

The floods claimed the lives of at least seven people, with one person severely injured and 11 others suffering mild injuries, according to local authorities. Additionally, several individuals, including a 14-year-old girl, remain missing as of Monday afternoon. The region experienced over 540 millimeters of rain in Wajima city within 72 hours, the heaviest recorded rainfall since comparative data became available.

In addition to the human toll, more than 100 areas remain cut off due to blocked roads caused by landslides. Power outages affected around 3,600 households, and emergency housing set up for those displaced by the January earthquake has also been inundated. Residents, already coping with the aftermath of previous disasters, now face the daunting task of rebuilding once again. (ILKHA)