TOKYO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan's weather agency on Wednesday warned of a high risk of landslides in western Japan as rain clouds are bringing intense downpours to the region.
As of early morning hours, extremely heavy rainfall has been observed, including 57 mm in one hour in Minami Town, Tokushima, 53.5 mm in Aki City, Kochi, and 40 mm in Ashikita Town, Kumamoto.
Forecasted rainfall through 6 a.m. on June 12 is up to 100 mm in Tokai and up to 80 mm in Kanto-Koshin, Kinki, Shikoku, and southern Kyushu.
Some areas in Kyushu have already seen over 400 mm of rainfall, triggering landslide warnings in parts of Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures.
The Meteorological Agency called for strict vigilance in western Japan and warned residents across broader regions to stay alert for severe weather phenomena such as lightning and tornadoes. ■
