Heavy rain in southern Japan triggered flooding and mudslides on Saturday, leaving more than a dozen missing and others stranded on rooftops waiting to be rescued.
More than 75,000 residents in the southern prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima were asked to evacuate following pounding rains overnight.
NHK television footage showed large areas of Hitoyoshi town in Kumamoto inundated in muddy waters that gushed out from the Kuma River. Many cars were submerged up to their windows.
This aerial view shows the Kuma River flooded with heavy rain in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan, Saturday, July 4, 2020. The Japan Meteorological Agency raised the heavy rain warnings in many parts of the prefectures to the highest level shortly before 5 a.m. It was the first time for the agency to do so in the two prefectures, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. (Kyodo News via AP)
Mudslides smashed into houses and floodwaters carried trunks from uprooted trees. Several people were standing atop a convenience store as they waited for rescuers.
NHK said about 13 people were reported missing. Kumamoto officials say they were still assessing the extent of damage.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set up a task force, vowing to do utmost to rescue the missing.
Houses are partially submerged in the Kuma River flooded with heavy rain in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan, Saturday, July 4, 2020. The Japan Meteorological Agency raised the heavy rain warnings in many parts of the prefectures to the highest level shortly before 5 a.m. It was the first time for the agency to do so in the two prefectures, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. (Kyodo News via AP)
The Japan Meteorological Agency earlier issued warnings of extraordinary rain in parts of Kumamoto, about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo, but later downgraded them as the rainfall — estimated at 100 milimeters (4 inches) per hour — subsided.
Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima said he requested help from the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
This aerial view shows the Kuma River flooded with heavy rain in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan, Saturday, July 4, 2020. The Japan Meteorological Agency raised the heavy rain warnings in many parts of the prefectures to the highest level shortly before 5 a.m. It was the first time for the agency to do so in the two prefectures, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. (Kyodo News via AP)
A bridge over the Kuma River is washed away by a flood in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan, Saturday, July 4, 2020. Heavy rain triggered flooding and mudslides on Saturday, leaving more than a dozen missing and others stranded on rooftops waiting to be rescued. More than 75,000 residents in the prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima were asked to evacuate following pounding rains overnight. (Kyodo News via AP)