Damage from record-breaking rainfall in Matsuyama City and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture

Damage from record-breaking rainfall in Matsuyama City and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture

On November 2, 2024, intense heavy rainfall was observed throughout Ehime Prefecture, especially in Matsuyama and Imabari cities, where more than 100 mm of precipitation was recorded in one hour. The Ishide and Shigenobu Rivers in Matsuyama City reached dangerous flood levels, flooding roads in the Ishide and Katsuyama districts. In some areas of Matsuyama City, an emergency safety alert level 5 was issued and citizens were urged to evacuate quickly.

Impact on businesses and facilities

As a result of the heavy rain, the underground parking lot of the large shopping mall "Emiful MASAKI" in Matsuyama City was flooded and had to be temporarily closed. In addition, Imabari Shipbuilding, a shipbuilding company in Imabari City, had to temporarily shut down operations after part of its factory grounds were flooded. Furthermore, local agriculture was also affected, with rice paddies in the Matsuyama Plain flooded and rice harvesting delayed.

Impact on Citizens' Lives

Transportation was also affected, with the Iyo Railway Takahama Line in Matsuyama City suspending service due to partial flooding of the tracks. Major roads, including National Route 33 and prefectural roads, were partially closed, restricting the movement of citizens. In addition, power outages occurred in some areas, leaving residents with no choice but to wait for restoration work to begin.

Administrative Response and Future Measures

Ehime Prefecture and Matsuyama City opened evacuation centers as an emergency response, temporarily sheltering approximately 500 people. Matsuyama City Hall has set up a disaster response team to assess the damage and work for early restoration. In addition, in response to the damage, the prefecture plans to review future disaster prevention measures, including river maintenance and strengthening of drainage systems.

Thus, the record-breaking rainfall in November 2024 had a serious impact on residents, businesses, and public infrastructure, especially in Matsuyama and Imabari cities.