Japan: Evacuation advisories issued in Chiba and Kanagawa October 25 /update 1

Event

Japanese officials issued evacuation advisories for parts of Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures on the afternoon (local time) of Friday, October 25. Advisories are in place for around 51,000 people in Sagamihara city (Kanagawa prefecture), including the districts of Shiroyama, Tsukui, Sagamiko, and Fujino. In Chiba prefectures, advisories were issued for the cities of Kamogawa, Minamiboso, and Ichihara, and the towns of Otaki and Kyonan. The advisories are ranked at level 4 on a scale of 5, and evacuation for all residents is strongly advised.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has also issued heavy rain, flood, and landslide warnings for several central and eastern prefectures through Saturday, October 26, as a low pressure system moves through the region. Warning are currently in effect for parts of Shiga, Aichi, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Gifu, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Fukushima prefectures. The situation may be exacerbated in areas that were hit by Typhoon Hagibis earlier in the month.

Associated power outages and disruptions to transportation and business services are possible in areas forecast to be affected by the system over the coming hours and days.

Context

Rescue and recovery operations are still ongoing following the passage of Typhoon Hagibis as the death toll reaches 86 people as of October 24, with a further eight individuals still missing. Over 72,000 homes were flooded by the storm and another 6500 were destroyed or partially damaged.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities, confirm road conditions before setting out, anticipate adverse weather and power and transportation disruptions, and remember that running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) is enough to knock over an adult - and never drive through flooded streets; floodwater may also contain wastewater and chemical products.