Key Facts
• 2025 rainy season labeled ‘dramatic,’ with extreme heat and heavy rain.
• Early heavy rains linked to global warming, increasing in frequency.
• September 2023: Fukushima’s linear rainbands caused 10 river floods, 1 death, 2,000 damaged homes.
• Vertical evacuation training held at Iwaki City’s Nishiki Elementary School.
• 27 schools in Iwaki designated as vertical evacuation sites by April 2025.
• Heatstroke cases: Over 8,600 emergency transports nationwide in one week (June 16–22, 2025).
• Heatstroke prevention measures mandated for businesses starting June 2025.
• Experts highlight outdated flood defenses and rising risks in small and large rivers.
• ‘Special Warnings’ for extreme rain introduced in 2013; ‘Linear Rainband’ term in 2016.
• Experts urge proactive information gathering and community collaboration.
Summary
The 2025 rainy season, marked by extreme heat and heavy rain, underscores the growing risks of climate change. Early heavy rains, intensified by global warming, demand updated disaster preparedness. In Fukushima, September 2023’s linear rainbands caused severe flooding, prompting the city to designate 27 schools as vertical evacuation sites by 2025. Training exercises emphasize the importance of securing nearby high ground. Experts warn that traditional flood defenses are insufficient, with risks spreading to smaller rivers. Heatstroke cases are rising, with over 8,600 emergency transports in a single week. Businesses are now required to implement heatstroke prevention measures. Specialists stress the need for proactive information gathering, community collaboration, and rethinking conventional disaster responses to address escalating climate challenges.
