Urgent Travel and Safety Advisory: Record Heavy Rain and Evacuation Guidelines for Shikoku and Honshu

Currently, extensive rain clouds are developing over Shikoku and Honshu. Radar analysis suggests that in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, approximately 90 millimeters of intense rain fell within an hour until 6:00 PM on the 25th, leading to the issuance of a “Record Short-Term Heavy Rain Information.”

Please exercise caution regarding landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, and river flooding due to heavy rain. For those living in areas prone to landslides or flooding, moving to a pre-designated evacuation site may be dangerous. In such cases, it is safer to relocate to a nearby, more secure location or to a room on the second floor or higher.

Record short-term heavy rain events occur only once every few years, and meteorological stations issue warnings when such rain amounts are observed and analyzed. The criteria for these warnings vary by region but are intended to notify the public of rare rain volumes that could potentially lead to disasters.

Landslides and river flooding can occur suddenly and spread rapidly, making timely evacuation critical to safeguarding lives. The timing of evacuation is crucial. During Alert Level 3, elderly individuals and those with disabilities should evacuate to a safe location. At Alert Level 4, all residents in the affected area should evacuate immediately. Alert Level 5 indicates that a disaster is already occurring, so actions to protect life are necessary. Evacuating at Alert Level 5 may be challenging, so early evacuation is essential.

Adverse weather can worsen road conditions and increase the risk of objects being blown around, complicating travel and evacuation efforts. Even if no evacuation orders have been issued, if you feel any danger, you should evacuate on your own initiative. The time to evacuate is when you feel uneasy. Maintain a disaster awareness mindset of “self-initiated, early, and safe evacuation,” and, when evacuating, inform and coordinate with neighbors to act together.