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Kyodo

The death toll from flooding and mudslides caused by severe downpours on Japan’s southwestern main island Kyushu rose to seven on Friday, as heavy rain continued in parts of the region.
A flood warning was issued for Kitakyushu, Fukuoka prefecture, while evacuation orders remained in place for about 191,000 people in Fukuoka, Oita and Kumamoto prefectures, with rain forecast through Saturday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Over 2,200 people have taken shelter in Fukuoka and Oita, according to the government.
The government stepped up its rescue effort by dispatching a total of 12,000 personnel, consisting of Self-Defence Forces members, police officers and firefighters. It is sending a government survey team headed by disaster management minister Jun Matsumoto to Oita on Sunday.

“I want ministers to show their leadership for restoration and prevention of further damage,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Friday at a ministerial meeting to tackle the disaster.
SDF members and firefighters continued their rescue operations, with at least 26 people left unaccounted for and around 700 others stranded at one point in Fukuoka and Oita.
In Asakura in Fukuoka, the body of Tetsuo Fujimoto, 66, was discovered under driftwood while the bodies of Toshihiko Kato, 87, and his wife Mikiko, 85, were found near a wrecked house.
Among other casualties, Taketo Yamamoto, a 43-year-old firefighter, was found dead after being swept beneath a mudslide in Hita, Oita prefecture.

Although emergency warnings have been lifted, the weather agency continued to urge residents to stay vigilant for mudslides due to ground being loosened by a third straight day of rain on Friday.
Rain fall of over 50mm in an hour was recorded in Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures early on Friday.
Weather conditions remained very unstable in western Japan as moist air seeped toward a seasonal rain front staying over the Tsushima Strait between Japan’s southwest and South Korea, the weather agency said.


Seven dead as floods cause widespread devastation on Japan’s Kyushu island

Residents cross a flooded stream overing a road at a landslide-devastated area as they evacuate from a makeshift evacuation centre in Asakura. Photo: EPA

Firefighters walk on the damaged road following the flooding caused by heavy rain in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan, Friday, July 7, 2017. Heavy rain warnings were still in effect for some areas on the southern main island of Kyushu after Typhoon Nanmadol swept across Japan earlier this week, bringing disturbing rain clouds to follow. Heavy rain moved to northern Kyushu, threatening flooding there.(Ryosuke Ozawa/Kyodo News via AP)

Houses are collapsed and half-buried in the mud following the flooding caused by heavy rain in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan, Friday, July 7, 2017. Heavy rain warnings were in effect for much of the southern main island of Kyushu after Typhoon Nanmadol swept across Japan earlier in the week. (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP)

People and houses swept away by flash floods in southern Japan

Driftwood and a car fill a water channel in the city of Asakura. Photo: Kyodo

epa06068926 A handout photo made availableby Japan's Defense Ministry Ground Staff Office shows rescue operations in Toho village, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan, 06 July 2017. More than 10 people are missing after torrential rain hit Kyushu island on 05 July, provoking river floods and landslides in Fukuoka and Oita prefectures. More than 7,800 personnel from the police, fire brigades and Self-Defense Forces are engaged in rescue efforts. EPA/DEFENSE MINISTRY OF JAPAN / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

The picture shows an areal view of flooded Asakura City, Fukuoka prefecture, on July 6, 2017. One person reportedly died and at least 18 are missing, after huge floods swept away houses in southern Japan, tearing up roads as they surged through villages, with authorities warning hundreds of thousands of people to flee. JAPAN OUT / AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS AND AFP PHOTO / STR / Japan OUT

Members of Japan Self-Defense Forces work to clear floodwood blocking a road in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan Thursday, July 6, 2017. Heavy rain following a recent typhoon flooded many houses in southwestern Japan, forcing thousands of people to flee, authorities said. (Takuto Kaneko/Kyodo News via AP)

A railway bridge over a river is washed away in the city of Hita following torrential rain in southwestern Japan on July 6, 2017. The government called on residents in the affected areas to protect themselves, while pledging to do its utmost to support them. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Stranded residents are rescued by boat in the southwestern Japan city of Asakura on July 6, 2017, as heavy rain hit the Kyushu region. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

A vehicle inundated by floodwaters is seen in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, on July 6, 2017. One person reportedly died and at least 18 are missing, after huge floods swept away houses in southern Japan, tearing up roads as they surged through villages, with authorities warning hundreds of thousands of people to flee. / AFP PHOTO / Kazuhiro NOGI

A woman is carried on back of a firefighter after being rescued by boat in the southwestern Japan city of Asakura on July 6, 2017, as heavy rain hit the Kyushu region. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

A bridge in the city of Asakura is seen destroyed on July 6, 2017, following torrential rain in southwestern Japan. The government called on residents in the affected areas to protect themselves, while pledging to do its utmost to assist them. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The picture shows an areal view of flooded Asakura City, Fukuoka prefecture, on July 6, 2017. One person reportedly died and at least 18 are missing, after huge floods swept away houses in southern Japan, tearing up roads as they surged through villages, with authorities warning hundreds of thousands of people to flee. / AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS / STR / Japan OUT

A man stands amid debris caused by a swollen river in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan Thursday, July 6, 2017. Heavy rain following a recent typhoon flooded many houses in southwestern Japan, forcing thousands of people to flee, authorities said. (Takuto Kaneko/Kyodo News via AP)

A railway bridge over a river in the city of Hita is washed away as seen in the photo taken July 6, 2017, from a Kyodo News helicopter, following torrential rain in southwestern Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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