Nagoya, September 9: Nagoya has rapidly recovered from severe flooding triggered by record rainfall, with the Asian Games host city returning to normal just days before the continental sporting event is scheduled to begin.
Heavy rain lashed Nagoya on September 8, inundating several roads and residential areas and temporarily disrupting buses and parts of the subway network. Nearly 3,500 residents were moved to emergency shelters as a precaution.
Around 400 athletes and team officials who had already arrived for the Asian Games were also shifted to safer locations following the flooding.
Recent images and videos from the city showed Nagoya Station and several other areas largely back to normal, with no apparent signs of flooding. Some buildings reportedly suffered roof leaks, but Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said the flooding had not caused any major damage to the venues designated for the Games.
“The situation is not severe enough to jeopardise the opening of the Games on the 19th,” Hirosawa told reporters.
“Based on the current situation, I don’t believe there will be any problem to hold the Asian Games,” he said.
The mayor, however, cautioned that the situation outside Nagoya was still being assessed.
“We have not yet been able to fully assess the situation outside Nagoya City, so I cannot comment on the overall situation,” he said.
“Based on the information we have at this point, I believe that we will be able to hold the Games without delay,” Hirosawa added.
The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to open in Nagoya and neighbouring areas on September 19 and continue until October 4.
