Asian Games athletes evacuated in Nagoya amid record rainfall
Quick Look
- Hundreds of Asian Games athletes in Japan were briefly evacuated from their accommodation due to record rainfall in Nagoya, with rainwater leaking into competition venues and more wet weather forecast.
- The Asian Games officially begin September 19, but some events started earlier.
- Organizers are using a cruise ship, temporary containers, and hotels instead of a dedicated athletes’ village.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Asian Games are underway in Japan, with some events starting before the official opening on September 19. There is no dedicated athletes’ village, with organizers using a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers, and hotels for accommodation.
Hundreds of Asian Games athletes in Japan were briefly evacuated from their accommodation as record rainfall lashed host city Nagoya, with competition starting on Thursday.
Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.
The Asian Games officially begin on September 19 but several events, such as basketball, get under way before that.
About 104mm (four inches) of rain fell in an hour in Nagoya on Tuesday, prompting municipal officials to issue an evacuation order for parts of the city.
Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather events in Japan and elsewhere.
There is no dedicated athletes’ village at this year’s Asian Games, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.
Open Questions
- How long will the wet weather persist?
- Will any competitions be rescheduled due to the rain?
- What measures are being taken to protect venues and athletes from further weather impacts?
