heavy rain kills
|

Heavy rain kills four in Japan

 

CHIBA, Japan: At least four people have died and another remains missing after record-breaking rainfall triggered flooding and severe disruption in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.

Japan’s weather authorities reported that Chiba City received 367 millimetres of rain within 24 hours, marking an exceptionally heavy downpour for the region. The intense rainfall caused flooding, damaged infrastructure and disrupted daily life across several areas.

More than 25,000 households lost electricity as the storm damaged power infrastructure. The severe weather also disrupted air travel, leaving more than 7,000 passengers stranded at airports. Authorities cancelled dozens of train services, while flooding and dangerous road conditions forced the closure of several major highways.

Officials issued an emergency high alert for areas facing the greatest risk from flooding and further rain. Rescue teams have been working to reach affected communities, while the Japanese government has sought assistance from the Self-Defense Forces to support evacuation and relief operations.

Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, avoid flooded roads and follow evacuation instructions as emergency crews continue searching for the missing person and assessing the extent of the damage.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Hasina vows Bangladesh return despite death sentence

    Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she intends to return to Bangladesh from self-imposed exile in India in December, despite facing a death sentence following her conviction in a crimes against humanity case. Speaking through an audio message at an event in New Delhi marking the second anniversary of the 2024 uprising, Hasina said she was determined to return to her country regardless of the risks. She stated that serving the people remained her responsibility and that fear would not prevent her from going back. Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, when a student-led protest movement forced her from office after weeks of nationwide unrest. She was later convicted in absentia by a Bangladeshi court over allegations linked to the violent crackdown on demonstrators during the protests. She has consistently denied the charges. According to a United Nations report, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 unrest. Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition from India, but New Delhi has not handed her over. In her address, Hasina also demanded that the ban on her Awami League party be lifted and called for the release of political prisoners. She maintained that the party should be allowed to resume its political activities. Meanwhile, Bangladesh officially inaugurated the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum in Dhaka to commemorate the 2024 protests. The museum has been established in Hasina’s former official residence and contains photographs, audio and video recordings, personal belongings of victims and historical records documenting the events of the uprising. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the museum alongside interim government leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, whose administration took office after Hasina’s removal from power. The museum also highlights allegations of political repression during Hasina’s years in office.

  • |

    US senators demand probe into conditions aboard US…

    WASHINGTON: US senators are demanding an investigation into reported conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, as concerns grow over food shortages, broken plumbing, contaminated water and mental health problems during the aircraft carrier’s unusually long deployment in the Middle East. Democratic senators called for answers from the US Navy on Wednesday, citing reports that the nuclear-powered carrier has remained at sea for more than 250 days and has not come ashore for more than 200 days. Senator Richard Blumenthal, in a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, urged the Pentagon to explain the conditions facing personnel aboard the ship. He said the extended deployment had been accompanied by reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing failures and deteriorating mental health. The concerns have also reached the Senate Armed Services Committee, with Senator Ruben Gallego calling for an official oversight visit involving a bipartisan Senate delegation. In a post on X, Gallego said lawmakers should be allowed to inspect the carrier and investigate what he described as alarming reports from personnel and their families. The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025, initially heading for duty in the South China Sea. It was later redirected towards the Middle East as tensions escalated ahead of US and Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28. The prolonged deployment has reportedly placed significant pressure on the approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier. During recent meetings, family members reportedly confronted Navy officials over shortages of food and other basic necessities while seeking clarity about when their relatives might return home. Some accounts have also raised serious concerns about mental health among crew members. Reports cited by lawmakers included alleged suicide attempts and threats by personnel to jump from the ship. Gallego highlighted claims of moldy showers, irregular hot water, rationed meals and soap, broken toilets and exhausting 12-to-16-hour work shifts without regular days off. “These are frightening alarm bells,” Gallego said, arguing that the reported conditions require immediate attention. The allegations come as the Lincoln continues a deployment that has already broken records for consecutive days at sea. Extended deployments can place additional physical and psychological demands on military personnel, particularly when access to supplies, recreation and shore-based support is limited. The US Navy had not immediately responded to an AFP request for comment. For the senators, the immediate priority is accountability and determining whether sailors and Marines aboard the carrier have adequate food, water, medical care and safe working conditions. The growing calls for oversight could now put pressure on the Pentagon and Navy leadership to provide answers about one of the longest and most demanding carrier deployments in recent US military history.

  • |

    Anger boils over as residents jeer French PM in Gironde

    French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faced a hostile reception in the Gironde region on Monday. Residents booed him during a visit to Le Porge, amid growing anger over the government’s handling of recent wildfires. Lecornu had travelled to the area to meet local officials and discuss reconstruction efforts following a devastating wildfire last month. The visit, however, quickly turned tense. Footage published by BFMTV showed residents jeering as the prime minister arrived. Several locals also criticised him for leaving without engaging freely with the community. Speaking to AFP, 65-year-old resident Tony Veiga said the least Lecornu could have done was actually meet with residents directly. He said the government’s approach made people feel as though they simply didn’t matter. Lecornu’s office responded by saying he had spoken with affected residents and farmers during the visit. Speaking separately with officials in nearby Merignac, the prime minister insisted there was nothing to hide regarding how fire protection efforts had been carried out in recent weeks. According to AFP, much of the anger stems from allegations that authorities prioritised protecting the affluent Cap-Ferret peninsula over ordinary local homes during the firefighting response. Lecornu firmly rejected those claims, denying any preferential treatment had taken place. The backlash adds to broader frustration across parts of Europe currently grappling with wildfire emergencies. Meanwhile, the European Commission has ramped up support elsewhere on the continent, deploying additional firefighting resources to both Belgium and Spain through its civil protection mechanism. Swedish aircraft and helicopters from several European countries have been sent to Belgium to assist with ongoing fire response efforts there. Separately, 104 French firefighters and 36 vehicles have joined operations in Spain to help combat blazes spreading through the region. With wildfires continuing to strain resources across multiple European countries, pressure on national governments to respond effectively is likely to remain high in the coming weeks. For Lecornu, Monday’s frosty reception in Gironde signals that public patience with the government’s crisis response is wearing thin.

  • | | |

    Iran announces $30,000 reward for capturing or kil…

    TEHRAN: Iran has announced a $30,000 reward for anyone who kills or captures a US servicemember and hands them over to Iranian authorities, in a striking escalation of rhetoric amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iranian Army chief Maj Gen Amir Hatami announced the reward, saying it had been introduced after what he described as a large number of public requests to participate in the confrontation with the United States. Under the reported scheme, a person who kills or captures a US soldier and hands the servicemember to Iranian authorities would receive $30,000, or the equivalent of about 5 billion Iranian tomans. Hatami reportedly said the reward would be doubled if the action was carried out by a woman. The announcement comes as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high. Tehran has repeatedly demanded that American forces leave the region, while Washington has maintained a significant military presence across the Middle East. Despite the threat, there are no known US ground forces permanently deployed inside Iran. Reports indicate that American personnel entered Iranian territory in April during a rescue operation following the crash of a US aircraft. Hatami also issued a warning over the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces would not be allowed to return. His comments came after US President Donald Trump made controversial statements concerning the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint because it is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Any further escalation around the passage could have consequences well beyond the region, particularly for global oil markets. The latest Iranian announcement adds another provocative dimension to an already tense confrontation, raising concerns over the safety of US personnel and the possibility of further escalation across the Middle East.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *