Heavy rains hitting southwestern Japan this weekend have caused local authorities to recommend the evacuation of 370,000 people, as well as the suspension of high-speed and regional train services.
The rainy front that has been affecting the southern half of the Japanese archipelago left especially significant damage in the Shimane prefecture, where 20 river overflows and 15 landslide incidents were recorded.
Local authorities urged more than 370,000 people from two towns in that prefecture to leave their homes and go to evacuation centers. Rainfall of more than 100 millimeters has been recorded in the area over the course of six hours, according to the Meteorological Agency of Japan (JMA).
Police and rescue services are searching possible passengers of a vehicle that was swept away by a river, according to local media.
The weather phenomenon also caused the disruption of high-speed rail service between Hiroshima and Hakata stations to the southwest, the operating rail company said.
These interruptions and others in regional connections may last at least until 1:00 p.m. local time on Sunday (4.00 GMT), according to Japan Railways West.
The JMA has warned of the risk of continuing floods, landslides and other incidents related to the torrential rains that are expected during Sunday’s day in the west, southwest and center of the country.