Cases of Disaster
July 19 and 20, 2003
Sediment-related disasters at many places in Kyushu
caused by heavy rain of the Bai-u front
Sediment-related disasters frequently occurred at many places in Kyushu
The Bai-u front became active in July and stayed at the north of Kyushu. The active front caused heavy rain to many places in Kyushu, which resulted in the occurrence of sediment-related disasters in Dazaifu (Fukuoka) on July 19 and in Minamata (Kumamoto) and in Hishikari (Kagoshima) on July 20. Due to these disasters, 22 people died while 80 houses were completely/half and partially destroyed.
Meteorological satellite imagery at the occurrence of the disasters
Meteorological chart at the occurrence of the disasters
*Source: Japan Weather Association (JWA)Warm and wet air flew into the sluggish Bai-u front and made the front active.
24-hour precipitation distribution (16:00, July 19 to 15:00, July 20)
It locally rained very hard from the midnight on 19 to the morning on 20.
*Source: Coloring of information appeared in http://www.diaster-i.net/disaster/20030720/Hougawachi Atsumari Area, Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture
| Occurrence date: | Around 04:20, July 20, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Observation station: | Fukagawa Observation Station, Minamata City |
| Continuous rainfall*: | 314 mm (8:00, July 19 to 5:00, July 20) |
| Maximum hour rainfall: | 91 mm/hr (04:00 to 05:00, July 20) |
| Damages: | Human damage- 15 deaths and 6 injuries House damage- 14 houses completely destroyed and 1 house half destroyed |
*Accumulated rainfall till the occurrence of the disasters
It locally rained very hard from the midnight on 19 to the morning on 20.
Hourly rainfall and accumulated rainfall at the occurrence of the disasters(Fukagawa Observation Station, Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture)
Harakawa Area, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
| Occurrence date: | Around 05:40, July 19, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Observation station: | Sanjo-machi, Dazaifu City (Futaba Elderly Nursing Home) |
| Continuous rainfall*: | 299 mm (8:00, July 18 to 06:00, July 19) |
| Maximum hour rainfall: | 82 mm/hr (04:00 to 05:00, July 19) |
| Damages: | Human damage- 1 death House damage- 6 houses completely destroyed, 14 houses half destroyed and 20 houses partially destroyed *Continuous rainfall= Accumulated rainfall till the occurrence of the disasters |
Shinyashiki Area, Fukagawa, Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture
| Occurrence date: | Around 04:30, July 20, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Observation station: | Fukagawa Observation Station, Minamata City |
| Continuous rainfall*: | 314 mm (08:00, July 19 to 05:00, July 20) |
| Maximum hour rainfall: | 91 mm/hr (04:00 to 05:00, July 20) |
| Damages: | Human damage- 4 deaths and 1 injury House damage- 1 house completely destroyed |
Maeme Area, Hishikari Town, Isa-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture
| Occurrence date: | Around 08:00, July 20, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Observation station: | Observation Station, Hishikari Town |
| Continuous rainfall*: | 402 mm (23:00, July 17 to 08:00, July 20) |
| Maximum hour rainfall: | 80 mm/hr (07:00 to 08:00, July 20) |
| Damages: | Human damage- 2 deaths House damage- 1 house completely destroyed *Continuous rainfall= Accumulated rainfall till the occurrence of the disasters |