88 dead, over 50 missing after massive flood, landslides in southwest Japan

Please guide The Rescuers and keep them safe may those who are still alive be found quickly and May everyone be accounted for by the time this is over

So tragic, much of Japan is built on flood plains :(

Very sad, my thoughts are with them.

Motoyama-cho in Kochi got 1600mm of rain or 66 inches over those 3 days or so. My hometown on the US east coast gets about 47 inches/year, and it's not like I grew up in Death Valley. Astonishing.

This is terrible. Natural disasters are the worst thing about this country.

With warmer seas known to produce more precipitation, I suspect this is part of our changing climate and not just an isolated weather event. For the meantime though, I just hope that the rains can stop, the water can subside, and more people can be found alive.

Terrible. Seeing the footage of the water flowing over the river banks I had a terrible flashback of march 2011. Looks like disasters are getting worse in Japan each year.

@klaudsdorth

Hasn't this sort of stuff happened alot throughout history though ?

stay safe guys! There's another typhoon coming, the international name is Maria. I think southern Japan is in its trajectory. I hope they're wrong

Hasn't this sort of stuff happened alot throughout history though ?

Yes, but not this frequently. The periods of record rainfall every year definitely plays a part, but I think the overabundance of cedar trees with their shallower root systems is contributing to the frequency of landslides too.

Sure! Climate change is a factor. But on top of that, so many houses are built on disaster-prone land here in Japan. It's mind-boggling.

Safery of the people of Japan are in our thought and prayers !