Flooding, mudslides hit northern Japan after heavy rainfall
People were warned to evacuate from risky areas
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Heavy rain poured over northern Japan on Wednesday, flooding residential areas and prompting warnings of mudslides.
The Mogami River in Yamagata prefecture flooded four areas following an overnight downpour, leaving several towns inundated, chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said. Another river overflowed its banks in nearby Akita prefecture, he said.
Suga told reporters no deaths have been confirmed. But he warned people should evacuate from risky areas. A mudslide has isolated an area with more than 500 people, he added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}'EXCESSIVE' SUMMER MONSOON RAINS IN ASIA DISPLACE MILLIONS, CAUSE AT LEAST 500 DEATHS
A residential area is flooded following a heavy rain in Okura village, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan Wednesday, July 29, 2020. (Kyodo News via AP)
TV footage showed rescuers paddling rubber boats in residential areas, looking for stranded people, and groups of homes in a sprawling lake of muddy water.
A residential area is flooded following a heavy rain in Oishida town, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan Wednesday, July 29, 2020. (Kyodo News via AP)
The Yamagata Shinkansen bullet train temporarily stopped running, and some highways were blocked off.
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Heavy rainfall was expected throughout Wednesday, including in some areas near Tokyo. The southwestern area of Kyushu was hit with heavy rain earlier this week.