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Agence France-Presse

Hundreds of Asian Games athletes in Japan were briefly evacuated from their accommodation as record rainfall lashed host city Nagoya, with competition starting on Thursday.
Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.
The Asian Games officially begin on September 19 but several events, such as basketball, get under way before that.
About 104mm (four inches) of rain fell in an hour in Nagoya on Tuesday, prompting municipal officials to issue an evacuation order for parts of the city.
Cars were forced to plough through heavily flooded roads, causing huge traffic jams, while water streamed into subway stations.
Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather events in Japan and elsewhere.
There is no dedicated athletes’ village at this year’s Asian Games, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.

An official with Nagoya Port Authority said that “hundreds” of athletes staying at the city’s Garden Pier area, where the wooden container huts are located, were told to move to safety.
The athletes returned after the evacuation order was lifted about two hours later.
Rainwater was found in several competition venues but Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said the facilities were not seriously affected and that events would go ahead as scheduled.
“There has been limited impact like rainwater leaking from the roofs of some buildings, but the situation is not so serious that the opening [ceremony] on the 19th is in jeopardy for now,” he said.
“Given the current circumstances, I believe there will be no obstacles to holding the Asian Games.”
Subway and bus services in Nagoya were temporarily halted on Tuesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest flood warning for a major river in the area.
Television footage showed rainwater pouring onto a railway line like a waterfall from elevated ground.
In another part of Nagoya, an abandoned car sat on a pedestrian pavement Wednesday.
“Traffic congestion is terrible because cars that can’t move any more are here and there, blocking the roads,” Hitomi Terada, who works at a hotel in hard-hit Chigusa district, said.

“Most of our 25 guest rooms were filled with guests who were unable to go home because of traffic congestion,” the 44-year-old said.
“Some of our hotel employees couldn’t come this morning for work because of traffic problems.”
Japan’s weather agency issued further warnings Wednesday for heavy rain and landslides, with rainfall expected to continue intermittently through Thursday in many areas of the country, including Aichi prefecture that is hosting the Asian Games.
More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected at the Games – a bigger number than the Olympics.


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The heavy rain in Nagoya forced municipal officials to issue an evacuation order for parts of the city. Photo: Reuters

The record rainfall also temporarily halted subway and bus services in Nagoya. Photo: Kyodo 

People attempt to push a stranded car in a flooded street in Nagoya on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo

Tsang Chiu-tat issues instructions to his Hong Kong squad during training. Photo: Sun Yeung

Tsang Chiu-tat says it is an “honour and a privilege” to lead Hong Kong in the Asian Games. Photo: Sun Yeung

Ngan Cheuk-pan is one of Hong Kong’s three overage players for the forthcoming Asian Games. Photo: Jonathan Wong

So far, 17 sports, including table tennis, badminton and volleyball, have sold more than 80 per cent of tickets. Photo: Reuters

Tickets for unique events such as kabaddi have sold out, official figures show. Photo: Xinhua

Japanese hurdler Hitomi Nakajima apologised to fans about schedule changes on social media. Photo: AP

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There is no dedicated athletes’ village, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels


There is no dedicated athletes’ village, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.


Record rain forces hundreds of Asian Games athletes to evacuate accommodation

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}There is no dedicated athletes’ village, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels

There is no dedicated athletes’ village, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels