Drought Deepens Across Japan

Dangerous heat returned to Japan on August 19, complicating efforts to recover from recent disasters in earthquake-stricken Kumamoto and flood-ravaged Chiba. Unusually low rainfall and limited snowfall have pushed reservoirs in several regions toward critical levels. Some areas of Chiba city remained without running water as people relied on water distributed by the city's waterworks bureau.

In Kumamoto, temperatures reached 38.7 degrees Celsius, marking the fourth consecutive day of temperatures above 35 degrees. Workers in Yatsushiro, where temperatures reached 37.6 degrees, were repairing earthquake-damaged homes while sweating heavily. Drought conditions are also affecting reservoirs, with the Miboro Dam in Gifu Prefecture showing significantly lower water levels than usual due to low snowfall and rainfall.

Typhoon No. 18 is expected to move near the Ogasawara Islands on August 23, potentially bringing a storm-force wind zone near the Japanese archipelago.