By MUNETAKE TANNO/ Staff Writer
November 8, 2019 at 16:05 JST
NAGANOHARA, Gunma Prefecture--In stark contrast to the fall colors around Yamba Dam here, plants and trees submerged following record rainfall from Typhoon No. 19 are showing a whitish tint.
The 116-meter-tall dam, which has been storing water on an experimental basis since Oct. 1, reached full capacity in just two weeks from the deluge brought by the typhoon on Oct. 12.
According to the land ministry, the dam was initially planned to reach full capacity in about three to four months.
The water level has since been lowered during water releases, dropping about 20 meters below full capacity as of 9 a.m. on Nov. 7. That revealed numerous mud-covered trees and plants at the dam.
Shozo Hida, 55, chairman of the Kawarayu onsen hot spring association, moved his residence to higher ground at the time of construction of the dam.
“(The white trees) should be honored for stopping the muddy water from flooding,” Hida said.
Yamba Dam is scheduled to be completed in spring.
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After the water level of Yamba Dam dropped due to the release of water, submerged trees that were covered with mud and turned whitish suddenly appeared. The photo was taken at Yamba Dam in Naganohara, Gunma Prefecture, on Nov. 7 from a drone. (Hiroki Endo)
