TOKYO: Following heavy rains that caused floods and landslides in Japan, six people have died on a peninsula still recovering from a recent earthquake, local reports indicated on Monday, September 23. While public broadcaster NHK confirmed the six fatalities, a fire department official noted one death and five individuals in cardio-respiratory arrest.

In Ishikawa, two people are missing, and eight remain unaccounted for. The region experienced over 540mm of rain in 72 hours, leading to severe flooding that impacted emergency housing built for earthquake victims. 

As of Monday, around 4,000 households were without power, and over 100 areas were isolated due to blocked roads from landslides. 

Residents like 54-year-old Akemi Yamashita shared their harrowing experiences, describing the rapid rise of floodwaters as "like something from a movie." Military personnel have been deployed to assist rescue efforts, and authorities are urging tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

Experts warn that climate change is increasing the risk of heavy rainfall, making this a critical situation for those in affected areas.