A body was found drifting in the Sea of Japan, that Japanese rescuers said on Tuesday might be a teenager who went missing in a severe flood 10 days ago.
Rescuers found the body on Monday in waters off the port of Fukui in central Japan, some 160 kilometers southwest of the Noto region that experienced torrential rain, violent floods and landslides that killed at least 13 people.
The search for Hanon Kiso, 14, captured national attention as her distressed father Takaya Kiso appealed for help finding his daughter, who was home alone when the disaster hit on September 21.
The body found on Monday was wearing a gym suit with a tag that rescuers believed says "Kiso", a local coast guard official told AFP.
Takaya Kiso, who saw photos of the body, told reporters on Tuesday that he believed it was his daughter.
"We haven't been able to positively identify her, but I am sure it was my daughter's clothes," he said.
He was at work when water surrounded their home and rushed back, but the house was already gone.
"In my last phone call to her, I told her to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, and it looks like she listened," Takaya Kiso said.
The coast guard official said efforts to identify the body were continuing.
More than 540 millimeters of rain was recorded in the city of Wajima over 72 hours, the heaviest continuous downpour since comparative data became available.
The disaster hit an area making a fragile recovery from a magnitude 7.5 quake on New Year's Day that toppled buildings, triggered tsunami waves and sparked a major fire.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is intensifying the risk posed by heavy rains because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.
© 2024 AFP
8 Comments
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tamanegi
My wife and I were deeply saddened to hear this news. Our sympathy is with the Kiso family and classmates on the loss of their dear daughter in such terrible circumstances.
Like others here it is somewhat of a relief that Hanon was found and can be laid to rest.
wallace
Too many families are enduring tragic tales due to the earthquake and subsequent flood. The loss of a child is always difficult to bear.
V Campbell
"Scientists say human-driven climate change is intensifying the risk posed by heavy rains because a warmer atmosphere holds more water." Yes, some scientists say that. Others virulently disagree.
WA4TKG
R I P
rainyday
That is gut wrenchingly tragic. I have a lot of sympathy for that family.
DudeDeuce
RIP
buchailldana
Life is very cruel sometimes.
May she rest in peace and dearly hope in time the family can somehow find peace.
Very sad to hear.
Her last moments must have been terrifying.
virusrex
If this is indeed the remains of Hanon Kiso (as everything seems to indicate) this means that finally her family will find some peace.