World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Floodwaters submerged vehicles in at least 80 Japanese underpasses
A survey of underpasses in Japan’s prefectural capitals found that vehicles were submerged at least 80 times over the past decade.
The incidents involved 134 vehicles across 33 prefectural capitals.
The survey covered 866 underpasses managed by national, prefectural and city authorities.
Floodwater can make an underpass dangerous when drivers enter and become trapped or unable to move.
Two people died at separate flooded underpasses in Chiba Prefecture during torrential rain in August.
Warning systems had been installed at 415 locations, but barriers that can block entry automatically or remotely were in place at only 54.
The national transport ministry has begun closing some underpasses before heavy rain and has urged local governments to take similar steps.
At least 80 underpasses in prefectural capitals across Japan had vehicles submerged in floodwaters over the past decade, a Kyodo News survey found.
The incidents involved 134 vehicles across 33 prefectural capitals.
The survey covered 866 underpasses managed by 104 government bodies, all of which responded.
Warning systems were installed at 415 locations, while remotely operated or automatic barriers were installed at 54.
The findings come after two people died in separate underpass flooding incidents during torrential rain in Chiba Prefecture in August.
- Who
- Drivers in 134 vehicles were involved in the reported incidents.
- What
- Floodwaters submerged vehicles at at least 80 underpasses over the past decade.
- When
- Over the past decade; the survey was conducted since September.
- Where
- Underpasses in 33 prefectural capitals across Japan.
- Why
- Torrential rain flooded underpasses; the sources do not state why the vehicles entered them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Torrential rain flooded underpasses in Chiba Prefecture, and two people died at separate locations in the prefectural capital.
Kyodo conducted its survey of underpasses and flooding incidents.
Kyodo reported the survey’s finding that at least 80 underpasses had seen vehicles submerged over the past decade.
- Underpasses with submerged vehicles
- At least 80
- Vehicles involved
- 134
- Prefectural capitals affected
- 33
- Underpasses covered by survey
- 866
- Warning systems installed
- 415 locations, about 48 percent
- Remote or automatic barriers installed
- 54 locations, just over 6 percent
Sources
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