Nichinan City authorities issued a Level 4 flood-danger warning and an evacuation order for residents on June 2, 2024 [1].
The emergency measures reflect the high risk of river flooding as Typhoon No. 6 brings intense rainfall to the Pacific side of Japan. Pre-emptive evacuations are critical to prevent loss of life in areas prone to sudden surges.
City officials said the warning and order were issued around 3 p.m. JST on June 2 [1]. The alert specifically targets the Hirotogawa and Sakadani river basins in Miyazaki Prefecture [2]. As of 4 p.m. on that day, the typhoon was located near Kagoshima and Tanegashima islands [1].
Meteorologists expect rainfall to peak on the morning of June 3, 2024 [2]. The storm's influence is expected to extend beyond Miyazaki, with heavy rain also forecast for the Kanto region [2].
Sakaguchi Aimi, a weather forecaster, said that active rain clouds have spread to the northeast even before the typhoon's closest approach, necessitating high vigilance against heavy rain [1].
Caster Inoue Takahiro said that the damage from Typhoon No. 6 is likely to be most severe on the Pacific side of the country [1].
The Level 4 warning serves as a critical trigger for residents to move to safety immediately [1]. Local authorities continue to monitor river levels as the storm system moves across the region.
“A Level 4 flood-danger warning was issued for the Hirotogawa and Sakadani rivers.”
The issuance of a Level 4 warning indicates that river banks are at imminent risk of overflowing or collapsing. By ordering evacuations before the rainfall peaks on June 3, authorities are attempting to mitigate the risks associated with flash flooding and landslides, which are common during typhoon seasons in Japan's mountainous coastal regions.
