Sediment disasters in Kumamoto Prefecture by a heavy rainfall in July 2020

Abstract

On July 4, 2020, heavy rainfall was observed in the southern part of Kumamoto prefecture and the northern part of Kagoshima prefecture. Due to the heavy rainfall, floods and sediment disasters such as landslides and debris flows were occurred especially in the Kuma River basin of Kumamoto prefecture. We conducted field investigations at four sites in Ashikita-town and Tsunagi-town, Kumamoto prefecture, where landslides and/or debris flows caused deaths. We also conducted field investigations in the Kawauchi River branch of the Kuma River where huge amounts of sediment discharge caused damage to houses. The objectives of these investigations were to clarify the situation and mechanism of the disasters and to propose procedures to recover from the disasters. This report briefly summarizes the results in these investigations.