This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
Published on July 5, 2020, a devastating flood hit the Kumamoto region on Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, claiming the lives of at least 18 people and leaving 14 others missing.
Fourteen of those feared dead were residents of a nursing home that was inundated when local rivers broke their banks. Emergency services rescued 50 people from the facility, with many more still trapped.
"Tables and sofas were floating around and you could not move," said an official who helped lead rescue efforts at the home where his wheelchair-bound elderly mother was among the victims.
Japan's rainy season typically brings flooding, but this year's rescue and evacuation efforts have been complicated by the coronavirus outbreak. Authorities at emergency shelters have implemented measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing.
Disaster Management Minister Ryota Takeda pledged to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the infection and make the lives of those who had to flee their home as comfortable as possible.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged financial support and warned residents in Kumamoto to brace for more rain, with over 40,000 personnel conducting search and rescue operations.
"Saving lives is our priority," Abe said, adding that heavy rain is expected in the region through Monday and residents must remain vigilant.
