Nearly 800,000 people in southwestern Japan have been ordered to evacuate as torrential rain threatened to cause landslides and flooding.
Some parts of Kyushu have received up to 39.4 inches of rain since Friday, with the Japan Meteorological Agency warning of more rainfall till midday Thursday.
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said residents should "take steps to protect their lives, including early evacuation" and ordered the military to prepare for rescue operations.

Global airlines race to fix A320 jets after Airbus recall
Death toll in Sri Lanka rises to 153 after Cyclone Ditwah
Hong Kong mourns victims of blaze that killed 128 and counting
Vast Russian overnight attack on Ukraine kills two, wounds dozens
Indonesia flood death toll climbs to 303 amid cyclone devastation
