TOKYO (Reuters) -File rains in central Japan’s Noto area, nonetheless recovering from a serious New 12 months’s Day earthquake, killed at the very least one particular person on Saturday, prompted evacuation orders for tens of 1000’s and brought about blackouts for greater than 6,000 households.

Seven individuals, together with 4 engaged on quake reconstruction, had been lacking, and requires rescue had been swamping the hearth division, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Hourly rainfall hit report 121 mm (4.8 inches) on Saturday morning in Wajima, whereas neighbouring Suzu obtained 84.5 mm in an hour, additionally an all-time excessive.

TV footage confirmed brown floodwater turning streets into rivers in Wajima, with vehicles half submerged.

Eiichi Higashi, a Wajima resident taking shelter at an evacuation centre throughout the metropolis, instructed NHK that folks had been dashing to the ability as night neared.

“It’s tough to see people who live in temporary housing after losing their houses to the quake now coming to yet another shelter because of the rain,” Higashi stated.

Navy personnel have been dispatched to the area to work on a rescue mission together with law enforcement officials and hearth fighters, Chief Cupboard Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi instructed reporters.

“This is heavy rain in the region that suffered massive damage by the Noto peninsula earthquake. There must be many people who are very worried,” Hayashi stated.

The 7.6 magnitude quake killed greater than 300 individuals in Suzu, Wajima and surrounding areas.