More than one million residents in Japan are directed to evacuate their homes on 3 July 2019, as heavy rains batter the southern region. 14,000 ground troops on standby for emergency search and rescue operations if needed. Video: Associated Press

4 July 2019 (Kyodo) – More than 1.09 million residents across two prefectures in Kyushu, including the entire populations of three cities in Kagoshima Prefecture, were ordered to evacuate as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, as continuing torrential rain raised the risk of floods and mudslides.

The amount of rainfall Friday totaled 1,010.5 millimeters in Ebino, Miyazaki Prefecture, and 755.5 mm in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Wednesday.

In Kanoya, in Kagoshima Prefecture, heavy rain of 81 mm per hour was recorded Wednesday afternoon.

Kagoshima Gov. Satoshi Mitazono told reporters Wednesday that the prefecture had decided to ask the Self-Defense Forces to deploy in order to assist with disaster relief, saying that there was an extremely high risk of large-scale disasters. […]

The forecast for the Kyushu region indicated 80 mm of rain or more per hour, with some areas likely to receive a month of rainfall in 24 hours, according to the agency. […]

Screenshot from video showing flooding in Yarumizu, Japan on 3 July 2019. Photo: shige__z / Twitter / AP
Screenshot from video showing flooding in Yarumizu, Japan on 3 July 2019. Photo: shige__z / Twitter / AP

In the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Thursday, the agency forecast up to 350 mm of rain in southern Kyushu, up to 300 mm in northern Kyushu, and up to 250 mm in the Shikoku region. […]

It said a rainy front is expected to remain over the Japanese archipelago through Saturday, and could also drench eastern Japan. [more]

More than 1.09 million residents in Kyushu ordered to evacuate as torrential rains continue