We’ve had some heavy rain in the past 24 hours. According to NHK at 9 AM this morning, 25,533 people in Yatsushiro, 1410 people in Minami Aso and 1311 people in Nishihara Mura were advised to evacuate.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160619/k10010561441000.htm

A news video on the following news site reports that Ushibuka (in Amakusa) got over 83 milimeters (3.2 inches) of rain in just one hour.

http://www.news24.jp/articles/2016/06/19/07333048.html

The map showing Kumamoto in red is a screenshot I just took from the web. Click on it to find information in English about warnings that have been issued for your corner of Kumamoto.

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/

I hope the heavy rain is not accompanied by a big aftershock. Even without aftershocks, steep inclines can be dangerous at times like this.

Also, an elderly man in Kagoshima is reported to have lost his life today after falling into a surging irrigation ditch.

Take care!

– Kirk