Heavy rain in southern Japan leaves up to six dead, 3 missing

BRIDGESTONE

11/07/2023 03:35

TOKYO, July 11 (Reuters) - Torrential rain over Japan's
southwestern island of Kyushu triggered floods and landslides
that left up to six people dead and rescuers searching for three
missing, officials said on Tuesday. 
    The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the special
warnings for heavy rains, issued on Monday for northern parts of
the island, to lower-level warnings and advisories, but urged
residents to stay alert for further landslides.
    Japan is the latest country to be hit by unusually heavy
rain in various parts of the world in recent days that has
raised new fears of the pace of climate change.
    "Municipalities are still making checks on casualties, ...
but we were informed of three deaths, another three deaths
potentially related to the disaster, three missing and two
lightly injured," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told
a regular news conference.
    The rain forced tire maker Bridgestone  5108.T  to suspend
operations at four factories on Kyushu on Monday, but the plants
 resumed operation by Tuesday morning, a company spokesperson
said.

 (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
 ((kiyoshi.takenaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 4563 2788;))