800,000 People in Japan Urged to Evacuate amid Heavy Rains

Over 800,000 residents of three cities of Japan, Kagoshima city, Kirishima and Aira, located in the Kagoshima Prefecture of Kyushu Island, have been urged by the government to evacuate and leave for safe shelters, as the continuing pouring rain has sharply increased the risk of devastating floods and landslides.

Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, has called on the population of the cities not to wait and to “take steps to protect their lives”.

Heavy rain has been lashing down since Friday and, as the Meteorological Agency of Japan states, rain is expected to continue into next week.

By Ketevan Kvaratskheliya

Image source: The Japan Times