At least 54 cultural assets including World Heritage sites have been damaged by floods and mudslides caused by this month's heavy rain in Kyushu, local governments said Wednesday.
The damaged assets include two on the UNESCO World Heritage List — the Miike Coal Mine and the Hidden Christian sites in the Nagasaki Region. The national treasure Aoi Aso Shrine, which was founded around 1,200 years ago, was also damaged.
Many privately owned cultural assets are believed to have been damaged by downpours as well, according to the governments.