Fukuoka City has begun the construction of its first underground river to prevent flooding caused by the Kashiigawa River in Higashi Ward. On January 23, a launch ceremony for a large tunnel boring machine, known as a shield machine, was held.
The Kashiigawa River has caused repeated flooding during heavy rains, including incidents in 1999 and 2015 that damaged dozens of homes. The new underground river will be located 10 meters below ground and will span approximately 700 meters, channeling excess water underground during periods of high rainfall.
The shield machine, with a diameter of 5 meters, can excavate up to 10 meters per day. Fukuoka City aims to complete the project by March 2026. At the ceremony, Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima pledged to ensure the safety of local communities. Officials emphasized the importance of this initiative as a new flood prevention measure for the city. Source: NHK / Fukuoka City Mayor official facebook
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