TOKYO, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan's weather agency on Monday issued the highest-level landslide warning for Niijima Island, south of Tokyo, amid heavy rain.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the Level 5 emergency warning for landslides for the island as a record 381 mm of rain fell there in the 24 hours through 5:20 a.m. local time Monday.
Under the influence of a seasonal rain front, heavy rain also hit eastern Japan, including Tokyo, from the early hours of Monday, with the JMA issuing a level 4 landslide alert on its 5-point scale for parts of Chiba and Saitama prefectures, neighboring Tokyo, as well as the central part of Fukushima Prefecture.
Weather officials warned of more rainfall in wide areas facing the Pacific as warm and damp air approaches the rain front stretching along the main island of Honshu, urging people in affected areas to remain on high alert for landslides and other disasters. ■
