Flooding hits Japan by Alex Deakin
Torrential rains and gale force winds have lashed southern parts of Japan killing one and injuring four, as well as causing widespread flash flooding and triggering landslides.
Nearly 3,400 residents in Kumamoto have been urged to flee their homes due to a river breaking its banks, cutting off roads. Other neighbourhoods in mountainous areas have been isolated by the floods.
Yesterday a woman narrowly escaped death when a mudslide hit her house and washed her down a hill. One man was killed when he was swept into a swollen river in the state of Ehime.
One of the worst hit areas was the small town of Misato located south of Tokyo, where hundreds of homes were isolated by flooded roads and a landslide.
Over 200mm (7.87 inches) of rain fell in some parts of Kyushu in southern Japan since Thursday night. With more rain forecast over the weekend, cumulative rainfall may push amounts to much higher values.
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