Trending 
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged residents of Yakushima Town, Kagoshima Prefecture, to take immediate action to protect their lives after authorities issued a Level 5 Sediment Disaster Special Warning.
Takaichi, in a post on X, said there was an “extremely high possibility” that disasters such as landslides had already occurred in areas covered by the warning.
“Your life is in imminent danger,” she said, urging residents to follow instructions from local authorities and immediately move to safety.
She cautioned residents against attempting to reach evacuation centres if doing so could expose them to greater danger.
“If moving to an evacuation shelter could instead be dangerous, do not push yourself; prioritise actions to protect your life, such as moving to a somewhat safer location than where you are now, like a spot away from cliffs or riverbeds,” Sanae said.
Instead, she advised those unable to evacuate safely to move to a relatively safer location, including areas away from cliffs and riverbeds.
Takaichi also warned people in surrounding areas not covered by the Level 5 warning to remain vigilant, saying further disasters could occur as heavy rain continues.
She urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and monitor the latest evacuation and weather information through television, radio and online platforms.
The prime minister said people in dangerous areas should evacuate as soon as an Alert Level 4 Evacuation Order is issued, while elderly people, people with disabilities, families with young children and others who may need more time to evacuate should act under Alert Level 3.
She also warned of widespread heavy rainfall across western and eastern Japan due to typhoons and weather fronts, raising the risk of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and rivers overflowing their banks.
Residents were advised to consult local hazard maps, identify evacuation routes and shelters, and prepare emergency supplies and evacuation bags.
Takaichi also referenced flooding during heavy rains in Chiba in August, when roads and low-lying areas were inundated, urging motorists to avoid flooded roads.
Following the Level 5 sediment disaster warning, the government upgraded the Prime Minister’s Office Crisis Management Centre setup to a liaison room.
Takaichi said she had instructed officials to maintain close coordination with local authorities, provide timely and accurate information to the public, quickly assess any damage and prioritise emergency response efforts with a “lives first” approach.
She added that an earlier post had incorrectly referred to a “Level 5 Heavy Rain Special Warning” and had since been corrected to reflect the sediment disaster warning.
現在、鹿児島県屋久島町に「レベル５土砂災害特別警報」が発表されています。
これまでに経験したことのないような大雨となっており、特に土砂災害警戒区域などでは、土砂災害など何らかの災害が既に発生している可能性が極めて高い状況です。
命の危険が迫っています。…— 高市早苗 (@takaichi_sanae) September 4, 2026
