A powerful mudslide in Kagoshima’s Aira City has left two people injured and hospitalized after being rescued from beneath the debris, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The incident comes amid widespread evacuation advisories affecting over 360,000 residents across Kagoshima and neighboring Miyazaki prefectures. Authorities have urged residents to take early precautions as the Japan Meteorological Agency warns of continued heavy rain and thunderstorms in the region.
Television footage captured swollen rivers and knee-deep floodwaters inundating a shopping mall in Kirishima, underscoring the severity of the weather. Transport networks have been severely impacted, with multiple train and bus services suspended and dozens of domestic flights cancelled.
Officials caution that the risk of further disaster remains high as unstable slopes and rising water levels pose ongoing threats.