Eighty-eight people have died and over 50 remain missing on Sunday after torrential rains triggered massive flooding and landslides in western Japan, with rescue operations continuing in disaster-hit areas. Rescuers expanded their search for those still missing and stranded, with 54,000 personnel from the police, fire departments,
Eighty-eight people have died and over 50 remain missing on Sunday after torrential rains triggered massive flooding and landslides in western Japan, with rescue operations continuing in disaster-hit areas.
Rescuers expanded their search for those still missing and stranded, with 54,000 personnel from the police, fire departments, the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard now involved.
Evacuation orders or advisories were issued for up to 5.9 million people in 19 prefectures at one point, while over 30,000 people were staying at evacuation centers as of 3 p.m. Sunday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Many people are also believed to be stranded in their homes due to a lack of access roads because of flooding. As damage in affected areas is unfolding, the number of casualties is expected to rise as many landslides were not immediately confirmed by local authorities.
In Okayama Prefecture, one of the hardest-hit areas, more than 1,000 people trapped on the roofs of buildings submerged by floods following the bursting of three dikes on nearby Oda River were rescued by boats or helicopters.
In the Mabi district, about 1,200 hectares or one third of the district was submerged.
