Heavy rainfall in Japan's Kyushu region causes bridge collapse, evacuations

The Meteorological Agency issued warnings about ongoing torrential rain and thunder in the region until Tuesday noon, urging residents to stay vigilant against mudslides and flooding.

Linear rainbands, known for causing intense downpours, formed in Kumamoto Prefecture, resulting in record-breaking hourly precipitation of 82 millimeters and 80 millimeters in the towns of Yamato and Mashiki, respectively.

The heavy rain caused a 37-meter concrete bridge over a small river in Yamato to collapse, with no reported casualties. In Mashiki, a man was rescued by firefighters in a rubber boat after his house got stranded by a flooded river.

As a precautionary measure, evacuation orders were issued in 14 municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture, including Kumamoto city, as well as in certain areas of Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima prefectures.

Additionally, parts of Kumamoto Prefecture experienced power outages, according to Kyushu Electric Power. (ILKHA)