A Comprehensive Study on the Disaster Due to the July 2018 Torrential Rainfall

From July 5-8, 2018, a heavy rainfall was generated by the Baiu- front in the Eastern region of the Okayama Prefecture. Three days precipitation (5-7, July) in Niimi and Mabi observatories were recorded 495.0mm and 311mm, respectively. In Mabicho, the Odagawa River and its tributaries, the Suemasagawa and Takamagawa Rivers, overflowed due to heavy rainfall, killing 51 people in Kurashiki City（Mabicho） and completely destroying 4,646 houses. According to records, Mabicho has been a constant flood area since the Edo-era, but it has seen a rapid increase in population brought about by diversion of farmland to estate development starting in around 1970. Many of the new inhabitants who moved into Mabicho after this period had little understanding of the history of flood disaster, which caused delays in response and, as a result, expanded damages.