Production of flood hazard maps along rivers in Kyushu is lagging far behind other regions in Japan, with less than a quarter of municipalities required by law to create such maps having finished the work as of the end of March.
In the aftermath of the powerful Typhoon Hagibis, which hit Japan on Oct. 12, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry is calling on municipalities nationwide to include areas along smaller rivers on the maps. But slow progress in flood hazard mapping, which stems from the extra work needed to update inundation predictions, is likely to cause further delays in municipal flood preparedness.
As Kyushu is expected to receive more heavy rain than other regions due to climate change, local governments have been urged to take measures against disaster risks as quickly as possible.