Japan is experiencing heavy rain as a line of rain clouds sweeps across the Kyushu region, causing flooding and landslides in many areas. At the same time, the Meteorological Agency has warned that several regions face ongoing risks of heavy rainfall.
On 2 July 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that a linear rain band had formed over the northern part of Kyushu in the country's southwest. This has caused heavy rain, flooding, and landslides in multiple locations, prompting warnings for residents to closely monitor disaster risks.
The agency added that the seasonal rain front crossing western Japan, combined with a low-pressure system, generated dense rain clouds starting Wednesday night. These developed into linear rain bands over parts of Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki prefectures in the early morning, as well as covering areas of Oita and Kumamoto, leading to heavy rain warnings.
Officials reported that the highest rainfall in one hour was 46 millimeters, recorded at 07:00 in Kirishima city, Kagoshima Prefecture, at 04:20. The Chikugo River overflowed its banks in areas near Okuni town, Kumamoto Prefecture. There were also multiple reports of landslides across Kyushu.
The Meteorological Agency forecasts that heavy rain will extend to the Pacific coastal areas of Shikoku, as well as the Kinki, Tokai, and Kanto-Koshin regions by the morning of the same day. Japanese authorities have urged residents to stay alert for landslides, river overflows, flooding in low-lying areas, lightning, strong gusty winds, and the possibility of tornadoes.
. Source: NHK