Japan in distress once again

Published July 18, 2012
Policemen search for missing people at collapsed houses. Record-setting rainfalls have caused flooding and landslides in parts of southwestern Japan. ? Photo by Reuters/Kyodo
Policemen search for missing people at collapsed houses. Record-setting rainfalls have caused flooding and landslides in parts of southwestern Japan. ? Photo by Reuters/Kyodo
A collapsed house lies on the bank of the Kumanoue River in Ukiha, Fukuoka prefecture. ? Photo by AFP
A collapsed house lies on the bank of the Kumanoue River in Ukiha, Fukuoka prefecture. ? Photo by AFP
Residents walk on a temporary wooden bridge over a collapsed river in Ukiha, Fukuoka prefecture.  A typhoon menacing already sodden southwestern Japan could dump weeks' worth of rain on the area, forecasters warned, as communities struggle to recover from huge floods. ? Photo by AFP
Residents walk on a temporary wooden bridge over a collapsed river in Ukiha, Fukuoka prefecture. A typhoon menacing already sodden southwestern Japan could dump weeks' worth of rain on the area, forecasters warned, as communities struggle to recover from huge floods. ? Photo by AFP
Japanese motorists look on near a road collapse next to a river in Hita City, Oita prefecture.  Flood-battered southwestern Japan braced for a typhoon amid fears it could heap further misery on an area, where at least 32 are dead or missing after record rainfall. ? Photo by AFP
Japanese motorists look on near a road collapse next to a river in Hita City, Oita prefecture. Flood-battered southwestern Japan braced for a typhoon amid fears it could heap further misery on an area, where at least 32 are dead or missing after record rainfall. ? Photo by AFP
Southwestern Japan was bracing for more torrential rain on top of ?unprecedented? downpours. Whole neighbourhoods were swamped by the downpours. ? Photo by AFP/Kumamoto Fire Department
Southwestern Japan was bracing for more torrential rain on top of ?unprecedented? downpours. Whole neighbourhoods were swamped by the downpours. ? Photo by AFP/Kumamoto Fire Department
Japan Self-Defence Force soldiers search for missing people among collapsed houses following a landslide caused by heavy rains in Aso, southwestern Japan July. The downpour has killed 20 people and left eight missing while in Fukuoka prefecture alone nearly 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate. ? Photo by Reuters/Japan Ground Self-Defence Force 8th Division
Japan Self-Defence Force soldiers search for missing people among collapsed houses following a landslide caused by heavy rains in Aso, southwestern Japan July. The downpour has killed 20 people and left eight missing while in Fukuoka prefecture alone nearly 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate. ? Photo by Reuters/Japan Ground Self-Defence Force 8th Division
A destroyed car lies near collapsed houses after a landslide caused by heavy rains. At least 230,000 people across four prefectures in Northern Kyushu, southern Japan have received evacuation orders on Saturday as heavy rains continued for a third day. ? Photo by Reuters/Japan Self Defense Forces 8th Division
A destroyed car lies near collapsed houses after a landslide caused by heavy rains. At least 230,000 people across four prefectures in Northern Kyushu, southern Japan have received evacuation orders on Saturday as heavy rains continued for a third day. ? Photo by Reuters/Japan Self Defense Forces 8th Division
This handout picture released from Kumamoto Fire Department shows an aerial view of a cluster of buildings affected by flood waters left by torrential rain at Aso city. ? Photo by AFP/Kumamoto Fire Department
This handout picture released from Kumamoto Fire Department shows an aerial view of a cluster of buildings affected by flood waters left by torrential rain at Aso city. ? Photo by AFP/Kumamoto Fire Department
A man walks along a road covered in mud after heavy rains fell. At least six people died, 18 were missing. ? Photo by AFP/JIJI Press
A man walks along a road covered in mud after heavy rains fell. At least six people died, 18 were missing. ? Photo by AFP/JIJI Press
This handout picture released from Kumamoto Fire Department, shows an aerial view of a residential area and road affected by flood waters left by torrential rain at Aso city in Kumamoto prefecture, on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. ? Photo by AFP/Kumamoto Fire Department
This handout picture released from Kumamoto Fire Department, shows an aerial view of a residential area and road affected by flood waters left by torrential rain at Aso city in Kumamoto prefecture, on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. ? Photo by AFP/Kumamoto Fire Department
An aerial view shows firefighters searching among collapsed houses following a landslide caused by heavy rains in Minamiaso town, Kumamoto prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 12, 2012., local media reports said. ? Photo by Reuters/Kyodo
An aerial view shows firefighters searching among collapsed houses following a landslide caused by heavy rains in Minamiaso town, Kumamoto prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 12, 2012., local media reports said. ? Photo by Reuters/Kyodo

A typhoon menacing already sodden southwestern Japan, could dump weeks worth of rain on the area, forecasters warned, as communities struggle to recover from huge floods. Record-setting rainfalls have caused flooding and landslides in parts of southwestern Japan, leading to evacuation orders for thousands of residents, with authorities fearing that some people may have been buried alive.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...