Death Toll from Japan Floods Rises to 187

July 13, 2018

Tokyo- The death toll from floods and landslides caused by the torrential rain that mainly struck western Japan through the weekend reached 187 in 12 prefectures on Thursday.

A total of 68 people remain unaccounted for in five prefectures.

By prefecture, the number of deaths stood at 81 in Hiroshima, 59 in Okayama, 26 in Ehime, five in Kyoto and three each in Yamaguchi and Fukuoka.

Of the missing people, 39 are from Hiroshima and 25 from Okayama.

Search and rescue operations and infrastructure recovery work continued in stricken areas.

Police officers, fire authority officials, members of the Self-Defense Forces, local residents and volunteers have been engaged in their respective activities in extreme heat, with the mercury topping 30 degrees Celsius again.

Some areas are staying on high alert for further disasters, including the city of Fuchu in Hiroshima, which newly ordered some residents to evacuate due to a possible burst of a reservoir.

According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, water supply was disrupted at 235,000 households as of noon (3 a.m. GMT).

A total of 7,085 people were staying at evacuation centers as of noon, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Jiji Press