Evacuation warning in place for over 1.8 million people in Japan

The highest emergency alert is in place for the western prefectures of Saga, Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Hiroshima in Japan due to heavy rains, Report informs referring to NHK channel.

A level 5 evacuation warning - the highest possible alert - is now in place for more than 1.8 million people across 7 prefectures.

Weather officials are calling on residents to be ready for possible disasters, including landslides and flooding. They say people should do whatever is necessary to protect themselves.

The Meteorological Agency says a band of rainclouds over the northern Kyushu, Chugoku and Tokai regions and Nagano prefecture is dumping record amounts of rain.

The agency’s highest-level alert means people in affected areas should do everything possible to stay safe.

If going outside is too dangerous, they should move to the safest place in the building where they currently are. That could be a higher floor or a room that’s furthest from any nearby hill or slope.

On Aug. 14 afternoon, Takeo City in Saga Prefecture recorded 60 millimeters of rain in just one hour. An overflowing river in the city has flooded residential areas.