Heavy rain causes disaster in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan: Iwaki City subway floods, killing 1

An underground tunnel in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan was flooded due to heavy rain, and two cars were trapped before they could escape.

Affected by the lingering front, Japan's Kanto, Tohoku and other regions received heavy rainfall yesterday (6) night and today (7), and flooding was reported in many places. Among them, an underground passage in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, was flooded due to heavy rain, causing two cars to be trapped before they could escape. Rescuers were notified and rushed to the scene for search and rescue. A woman in her 60s had lost consciousness when she was rescued. She was pronounced dead after being sent to the hospital for rescue.

According to comprehensive Japanese media reports, the Iwaki City Fire Headquarters stated that the incident occurred at an underground tunnel in Yoneda, Kashima Town, Iwaki City. At around 7:40 this morning local time, some people reported seeing vehicles submerged in water. After the firefighters arrived at the scene, they confirmed that two vehicles were trapped. The driver of one of the vehicles had escaped on his own. Therefore, the firefighters tried their best to search and rescue the other vehicle and rescued an unconscious woman in her 60s. She was sent to the hospital but was unable to survive.

Reports pointed out that heavy rains have continued to fall in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan this morning. The local area once experienced violent rains of 40 millimeters per hour. The rainfall has not stopped so far. Since the incident occurred near an area crowded with restaurants, shopping malls and other businesses, it has been classified as a "hazardous location by flooding" by the Fukushima Prefectural Government. In addition to the underground passage, there were also reports of cars being submerged in water in Deli, Nishiki Town, Iwaki City. Fortunately, the driver escaped the car successfully and there was no danger to his life.