Nagoya mayor says floods will not hinder Asian Games
Severe flooding in the Japanese city of Nagoya has not harmed athletes who arrived early for the Asian Games, and the competitions are planned to be held on schedule. This was stated by Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, reports Asharq Al-Awsat.
Evacuation of participants
According to Hirosawa, around 400 athletes and staff members are staying in converted shipping containers used as temporary accommodation for Games participants. During the heavy downpour, they were briefly evacuated to higher ground.
The mayor reported several cases of roof leaks but said that no more serious problems had been identified near dozens of Asian Games venues. He noted that the city sees no obstacles to holding the competitions as planned.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Consequences of the downpour
Record rainfall fell in some areas of Nagoya on September 8. Water flooded dozens of roads and residential buildings, while pedestrians and vehicles became stranded. City bus and subway services were temporarily suspended, Hirosawa said.
Reports said that around 3,500 people used emergency evacuation centers. The Asian Games will open on September 19 in Nagoya and adjacent areas and will run until October 4. More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories in Asia have registered for the competitions. The previous Asian Games were held three years ago in Hangzhou, China.
