All wet from the sideways rain, umbrellas blown away by strong winds… Two people killed in a killer downpour “The most precipitation in eight prefectures” – horrifying photos of submerged water.

A reporter was finishing an interview at Tsukuba University (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture).

As I was walking around the campus, the rain was getting heavier and heavier. The strong wind almost blew away my umbrella, and I was soaked all over from the sideways rain. The soil on the ground was quickly turned into a muddy bog by the rain. In some places, the water level rose to the top of my shoes, and it was terrifying.

As of June 4, two people were dead in Aichi and Tochigi prefectures, five were missing, and 35 people were injured in 10 prefectures.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, rainfall over a 24-hour period reached record highs at 23 locations in eight prefectures, including Shizuoka, Aichi, and Mie. In Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, a 61-year-old office worker was found dead in a minicar submerged in farmland on the night of August 2. The car was submerged in water up to near the ceiling.

In Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, a man in his 70s who was fishing was swept away by an irrigation channel. A person nearby called 119 and said, “Someone is being swept away. About two hours later, he was found downstream in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and died in the hospital where he was taken.

2.2 times the number of deaths in 45 years

Due to the heavy rain, the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train service between Tokyo and Nagoya was suspended from the night of March 2. In Toyokawa and Toyohashi cities in Aichi Prefecture, many cars were submerged due to flooding, and residents had to evacuate by boat (see related photo).

The torrential rains that caused extensive damage to the archipelago were caused by a large typhoon No. 2 and a frontal line. Linear precipitation zones were generated in various areas, resulting in record-breaking rainfall. A linear precipitation zone is a group of cumulonimbus clouds that form into a line of well-developed rain clouds, bringing torrential downpours for several hours.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the frequency of occurrence has increased 2.2 times in the 45 years from 1976 to 2008. This is probably due to the fact that rising sea surface temperatures caused by global warming have made it easier for water vapor to be generated across the country. During the upcoming rainy season and typhoon season, linear precipitation zones may occur in large numbers. It is important to refrain from going out when heavy rain is forecast,” he said.

When a linear precipitation zone occurs, a large amount of rain falls in a short period of time. With safety in mind, we should always listen to the forecasts issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency.