Heavy rainfall in Japan has prompted landslides and floods in the north-central Noto region, leaving one person dead and several others missing, officials reported. 

Severe flooding caused rivers to overflow, flooding homes and leaving people stranded in the area struck by a deadly earthquake on January 1.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the highest alert level for heavy rain across multiple cities in the Ishikawa prefecture, including the northern coastal hard-hit cities of Suzu and Wajima.

"Heavy rain is hitting the region that had been badly damaged by the Noto earthquake, and I believe many people are feeling very uneasy," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

He asserted that the government "puts people's lives first," prioritizing search and rescue operations amid the torrent of rain.

The politician urged people to remain cautious about the latest weather and evacuation measures and to take early precautions, adding that self-defense forces have been deployed to join rescue operations in Ishikawa.

Missing persons and destruction

One person died in Suzu, while another went missing after being swept by the flood. Additionally, according to the prefecture, one other person went missing in the town of Noto.

In Wajima, four people at a construction site went missing after a landslide hit the area. The victims were among 60 construction workers repairing a tunnel destroyed by the earthquake, the NHK broadcaster reported, adding that one other person went missing from floods in another area of the city.

NHK footage from Wajima showed a wooden house was damaged and tilted after being hit by a landslide from a steep hill, with muddy water continuing to flow. No injuries were reported.

In Noto town, however, two individuals were severely injured when a landslide hit them while they visited their earthquake-damaged home.

The land and infrastructure ministry reported that, as of Saturday afternoon, at least 16 rivers in Ishikawa flooded their banks, urging residents to use maximum caution against potential mudslides and building damage.

Around 1,350 people sought shelter at designated community centers, school gymnasiums, and other town facilities by late Saturday afternoon, according to authorities.

Numerous roads were blocked by muddy water, and Hokuriku Electric Power Co. reported that around 6,500 homes were left without electricity. Additionally, traffic lights in the impacted regions were also out, while many households had water outages.

The JMA forecasts that the region could see up to 20 cm of rain within the next 24 hours, lasting until Sunday noon, due to rain bands causing heavy rainfall above the Hokuriku area.

Additionally, northern prefectures such as Niigata and Yamagata have also experienced heavy downpours, increasing the risk of flooding and other destruction, officials said.

A tragedy on New Year

Central Japan was hit on January 1 with tsunami waves exceeding one meter in height following a series of potent earthquakes that inflicted damage to residences, and closed highways, and prompted authorities to advise individuals to seek higher ground.

A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT), as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Japan's weather agency documented a sequence of  21 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher striking the central region within just over 90 minutes.

Tsunami waves reaching up to 1.2 meters (four feet) made landfall at Wajima port in Ishikawa prefecture at 4:21 pm (0721 GMT), approximately 10 minutes after the most intense seismic activity, as indicated by the JMA.