Japan NOW Battles Dual Disasters: Flooding Hits Typhoon Victims Still Recovering from Earthquake

Typhoon No. 14 "Pulasun," after weakening to a tropical storm, brought heavy rainfall and severe impacts to Japan. By September 23, the death toll had reached 7, with 2 people missing. On the morning of September 21, a rainband formed over the Noto area. In Wajima, over 4.7 inches of rain fell in just one hour. Over the course of the day, the region saw record-breaking rainfall, with 13.9 inches in Wajima and 10.2 inches in Suzu. The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to evacuate immediately.

Sixteen rivers overflowed, flooding many homes. In Wajima, several houses were completely washed away, leaving only the foundations.

Due to the rains, the Yamagata Shinkansen line halted train operations. Over 60 landslides and mudflows occurred on the northern peninsula.

As of September 22, more than 2,000 people had been evacuated. Floods and landslides destroyed roads in northern Noto and washed away several bridges, leaving 115 villages isolated near Wajima, Suzu, and Noto.

Power outages affected dozens of homes. Due to damaged water pipes, over 1,700 households in Suzu were left without water, while 60% of households in Wajima faced water supply issues.

Local residents who had lost their homes on January 1, 2024, after the earthquake had hit them face new challenges — their temporary homes were flooded. In Ishikawa Prefecture, temporary shelters in 9 districts of Suzu and Wajima were affected. One resident expressed concern that the flooding would delay recovery efforts, forcing people to spend another winter in cars or gymnasiums.

An 80-year-old woman said, "The most frustrating thing is that my mattress was completely soaked with dirty water. I spent months sleeping on mats in a gym, and I had just returned to a proper bed, only for it to be ruined again."

Natural disasters no longer strike one at a time. Cascading and simultaneous events are what differentiate recent catastrophes from those of the past. Residents of Noto, like many others around the world, are experiencing what it’s like to face a new disaster before recovering from the previous one. Scientists discussed what is driving this rapid escalation of catastrophes and how it might be stopped at the “Global Crisis. The Responsibility” forum.