A person has died and several are missing after a record amount of rain has fallen during the past week in northern Japan. The heavy rainfall has caused landslides and flooding, where several rivers have overflowed and swept away both bridges and cars.
The authorities have urged more than 200,000 people to evacuate.
More than ten centimeters of rain came in just one hour in the cities of Sakata and Yuza on Thursday.
In the worst affected regions, Yamagata and Akita prefectures, the rain subsided on Friday, but there was still a risk of flooding and landslides. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged people to "put safety first".
And more rain is expected. On Friday evening, up to 20 centimeters of additional rainfall is forecast in certain parts of the country, according to Japan's Meteorological Agency.
