Farmers dejected after floods submerge crops, equipment in Japan's Fukui Pref.

Floodwaters overwhelmed crops and machinery in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, on August 30, leaving farmers disheartened as they prepared for the upcoming harvest season. Heavy rain persisted for hours following the initial downpour, leading to significant disruptions in the region. Toru Taya, president of vegetable farm Noen Taya in the Takayacho district, expressed his dismay, saying, "I didn't think it would turn out this bad."

The farm, which cultivates over a dozen vegetables, including tomatoes and baby leaf greens, saw 20 plastic greenhouses housing about 8,000 square meters of produce inundated, along with a harvesting machine valued at approximately $31,000. Taya lamented that if the equipment proves irreparable, they would be forced to harvest manually, a "major blow" to their operations.

The Tokumitsucho district, known for its pastoral scenery, also succumbed to the deluge, with water mixed with sediment covering the area. Tamami Aoki, a 54-year-old food processing business owner in the district, empathized with the farmers, saying, "I really feel sorry for them." An emergency rain warning was in effect for the cities of Fukui, Ono, and Katsuyama, but the downpours extended beyond these municipalities, causing widespread damage.

In Sakai, where evacuation orders were issued, many areas were flooded, turning urban districts brown due to muddy water. Hiroko Kimoto, an 86-year-old resident in the Maruokacho district, was cleaning up rainwater from her home, expressing her concern for the elderly population in her town.

Fukui Airport in Sakai experienced flooding on its runway and tarmac, leading to the suspension of non-emergency helicopter takeoffs and landings. Authorities confirmed a woman suffered a broken bone, but there were no major casualties reported. The prefectural government reported that over 100 evacuation centers were operational, sheltering up to 592 people. Despite the challenges, the prefecture continues to grapple with the aftermath of the torrential rains.