Japanese weather officials have issued a heavy rain emergency warning — the highest level alert — for the western city of Tottori. The downpours have been brought by Severe Tropical Storm Lan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says that as of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the storm was moving north at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour around Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan.
The central atmospheric pressure was 990 hectopascals, with winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour.
In Tottori City, more than 230 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded in just six hours. That’s more than a month’s worth of rain for the whole of August.
The Meteorological Agency issued its strongest emergency warning for heavy rain for the city at 4:40 p.m.
The area has been receiving unprecedented amounts of rain, and rain-related disasters may already have occurred.
Officials are advising residents to stay on the alert and take immediate steps to ensure their safety.
They are urging residents to take shelter in nearby strong buildings, and when it is difficult to evacuate, move to upper floors and stay in rooms not facing mountain slopes.
The storm is expected to pass through the Kansai region and move over the Sea of Japan by Wednesday morning. Bands of heavy rain clouds may develop over Tottori Prefecture and the surrounding area.
Weather officials are calling on residents to be on alert for possible mudslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers in the prefecture.
People are also advised to be on alert for lightning and tornadoes.
