Photo: MAHATHIR MOHD YASIN / Shutterstock.com Severe weather has caused significant disruption in Japan, with Chiba Prefecture bearing the brunt of heavy rain that triggered Level 5 emergency warnings and left at least four people dead .
Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the latest situation report, issued at 11 am on August 14, is preliminary and that the figures could change as authorities continue assessing the damage.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued Level 5 Emergency Heavy Rain Warnings across numerous municipalities in Chiba beginning on the evening of August 13.
The warnings covered areas including Chiba City, Ichikawa, Funabashi, Matsudo, Sakura, Narashino, Kashiwa, Ichihara, Yachiyo, Kamagaya, Yotsukaido and Shiroi.
Additional areas, including Abiko, Inzai, Togane, Yachimata, Mobara, Oamishirasato, Nagara, Shirako, Sanmu and Kujukuri, were subsequently placed under the highest-level warning.
Separate Level 5 Emergency Landslide Warnings were also issued for several municipalities.
By 5:15 am on August 14, all Level 5 emergency warnings had been downgraded to Level 4 danger warnings or other lower-level warnings.
According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, four people have died in Chiba Prefecture.
The reported fatalities include one person in Chiba City and two in Sakura, while another death was recorded in Yachiyo. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding some of the deaths.
Multiple injuries have also been reported.
Funabashi recorded two minor injuries, while five people were injured in Matsudo. Two minor injuries were reported in Sakura, six in Kashiwa, one in Abiko, three in Kamagaya and one in Oamishirasato.
Authorities in Ichihara City were also responding to a report of a person being swept away by the water, with further details still being confirmed.
The heavy rain has generated an increase in emergency calls in parts of Chiba.
The Chiba Fire Joint Command Center, which covers numerous municipalities across the prefecture, reported more emergency calls than usual. Other fire command centers and the Funabashi City Fire Department were operating at normal levels.
A Chiba City firefighting and disaster prevention helicopter was deployed at on August 14 to gather information from the air.
Chiba Prefecture established its Disaster Response Headquarters at 7:30 pm on August 13 as the situation developed.
The national Fire and Disaster Management Agency also activated its own Disaster Response Headquarters and urged Chiba authorities to take appropriate measures and provide continuing reports on the damage.
The authorities emphasized that the latest figures are preliminary and could be revised as emergency crews continue their work and municipalities provide additional information.
Residents and visitors in affected parts of Chiba should continue to follow instructions from local authorities, particularly as Level 4 warnings remain in place following the downgrade from the highest emergency alert level.