Level 5 flood warning issued as Koyoshi River overflows in Yurihonjo, Akita
In short
Japan's Meteorological Agency and the land ministry issued a Level 5 flood special warning for the Koyoshi River (子吉川) in Akita Prefecture at 19:45 on 21 October. Overflow was confirmed at Moriko in Yurihonjo (由利本荘市), and emergency safety orders covered 448 households, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. Reports said no injuries or building damage had been confirmed.
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The Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a Level 5 flood special warning for the Koyoshi River in Akita Prefecture at 19:45 on 21 October. NHK described it as the highest of the five warning levels, requiring the greatest caution. The land ministry later said flooding had occurred near the left bank at Moriko in Yurihonjo, and TBS reported that water went over the embankment there. TBS said the warning was reissued at 20:15 after the flooding was confirmed. [ 10 , 13 , 16 , 19 , 27 , 33 ]
The warnings had escalated through the afternoon and evening. A Level 3 flood warning was issued at 15:55, with the river expected to reach the flood danger level at the Myoho station around 19:00. Yurihonjo issued evacuation orders at 18:00 to Nishitakizawa, covering 274 households and 785 people, and Kubota, covering 20 households and 45 people. Jiji Press reported that a Level 4 flood danger warning followed at 18:15. TBS said water at the Myoho station had been above the flood occurrence level since 19:20. [ 1 , 4 , 7 , 27 ]
The city issued Level 5 emergency safety orders to residents in the flood-risk areas of Nishitakizawa and Kubota, NHK reported. Yomiuri reported that by 20:30 the orders covered Kubota, Nishitakizawa and Ishizawa districts, a total of 448 households and 1,204 people. TBS also reported flooding on a tributary, the Ishizawa River. [ 13 , 21 , 40 ]
According to the prefecture and Yurihonjo police, roads were partly flooded in the city, and no information on injuries or building damage had been received. Akita Prefecture said at 00:00 on 22 October that no harm to people or houses was confirmed, Yomiuri reported. Nikkei, citing Kyodo, reported that the government set up a liaison office at the prime minister's office crisis management centre, and that JR East suspended the Uetsu Line between Fukuura and Araya from 19:30. [ 13 , 16 , 31 , 39 ]
At a press conference from 20:45, Kenichi Takahashi, head of the Meteorological Agency's monitoring and warning centre, said the river had already flooded and lives were in danger, TBS reported. TBS said the agency urged people not to travel by car and, rather than evacuate forcibly, to move to an upper floor. [ 35 , 40 ]
The agency said warm, moist air flowing into a low-pressure system and a front crossing the Tohoku region kept rain falling for a long time from the night of 20 October. Nikkei reported records for October at Sasako in Yurihonjo, at 129 mm in 24 hours, and at Nishiwaga in Iwate Prefecture, at 151.5 mm. Yomiuri said radar analysis suggested about 250 mm of rain in 24 hours near the Akita-Yamagata border upstream, and that cloudy or rainy weather was expected to continue on 22 October. Nikkei said the agency later switched the Koyoshi River to a Level 2 flood advisory in the early hours of 22 October. [ 13 , 16 , 31 ]
Why it matters
Level 5 is the highest of the five warning levels, and residents were told to act immediately to protect their lives. Outlets reported road flooding, a rail suspension and a government liaison office, but no confirmed casualties or building damage.
Key facts
- The Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a Level 5 flood special warning for the Koyoshi River at 19:45 on 21 October. [ 10 , 11 , 13 ]
- The land ministry said flooding occurred near the left bank at Moriko in Yurihonjo, where water was seen going over the embankment. [ 16 , 27 , 31 ]
- Yurihonjo issued a Level 4 evacuation order at 18:00 to Nishitakizawa (274 households, 785 people) and Kubota (20 households, 45 people). [ 3 , 4 ]
- By 20:30 an emergency safety order, Level 5, covered Kubota, Nishitakizawa and Ishizawa districts: 448 households and 1,204 people, Yomiuri reported. [ 13 ]
- Roads were partly flooded in Yurihonjo, and the prefecture and police reported no injuries or building damage. [ 16 , 31 , 39 ]
- Yomiuri said this was the third Level 5 flood special warning, after one for the Shonai River in Aichi and Gifu prefectures in September. [ 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A Level 5 flood special warning was issued for the Koyoshi River at 19:45 on 21 October. [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 ]
- Overflow was confirmed at Moriko in Yurihonjo, with water going over the embankment. [ 13 , 16 , 27 , 31 ]
- A Level 4 flood danger warning was issued at 18:15 and Yurihonjo issued evacuation orders to Nishitakizawa and Kubota districts. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Yurihonjo issued Level 5 emergency safety orders to residents in the flood-risk areas of Nishitakizawa and Kubota. [ 13 , 16 , 21 , 23 ]
- No injuries or building damage had been reported. [ 13 , 16 , 31 , 39 ]
Still unclear
- The size of the emergency safety order. Yomiuri gave 448 households and 1,204 people in three districts; TBS headlines referred to 'about 1,200 households' in one report and 'about 1,200 people' in another.
- The extent of damage. Akita Prefecture said at 00:00 on 22 October that no harm to people or houses was confirmed (Yomiuri), and other reports said no information on injuries or building damage had been received.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A Level 3 flood warning was issued for the Koyoshi River. [ 1 ]
- Yurihonjo issued evacuation orders to Nishitakizawa and Kubota districts. [ 4 ]
- A Level 4 flood danger warning was issued for the Koyoshi River. [ 2 , 7 ]
- Water at the Myoho observation station rose above the flood occurrence level. [ 27 ]
- The Level 5 flood special warning was issued. [ 8 , 10 , 13 ]
- The warning was reissued after flooding was confirmed. [ 19 , 33 ]
- The Meteorological Agency and the land ministry held a press conference. [ 18 , 35 ]