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| Japan floods: City of Joso hit by 'unprecedented' rain | Japan floods: City of Joso hit by 'unprecedented' rain |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Widespread flooding and landslides in north-east Japan have forced more than 90,000 people to abandon their homes. | Widespread flooding and landslides in north-east Japan have forced more than 90,000 people to abandon their homes. |
| The city of Joso, north of the capital, Tokyo, was hit by a wall of water after the Kinugawa River burst its banks. Helicopter rescue teams have been plucking people from rooftops. | The city of Joso, north of the capital, Tokyo, was hit by a wall of water after the Kinugawa River burst its banks. Helicopter rescue teams have been plucking people from rooftops. |
| One person has been reported missing in the region and at least 12 are injured. | One person has been reported missing in the region and at least 12 are injured. |
| The rains come a day after a tropical storm brought winds of up to 125km/h (78mph) to central Aichi prefecture. | The rains come a day after a tropical storm brought winds of up to 125km/h (78mph) to central Aichi prefecture. |
| "These heavy rains are unprecedented. We can say this is an abnormal situation and there is imminent serious danger," the chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Takuya Deshimaru, said on Thursday. | "These heavy rains are unprecedented. We can say this is an abnormal situation and there is imminent serious danger," the chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Takuya Deshimaru, said on Thursday. |
| The hardest-hit areas have been Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. Japan's Meteorological Agency had put both regions on its highest level of alert. | The hardest-hit areas have been Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. Japan's Meteorological Agency had put both regions on its highest level of alert. |
| Saori Mori, who lives close to the Tone River in the town of Abiko, told the BBC that "the water is right up to the top of the banks now". | |
| "We have been told to pack and prepare to evacuate as soon as we are told to," Ms Mori said, adding that she and her family were "getting ready for a fast exit". | |
| Analysis by the BBC's Mariko Oi in Japan | |
| Japan gets hit by, on average, 20 to 30 such storms each year. This is the 18th this year so despite the heavy rainfall that we have experienced over the last few days, it was difficult to predict how severe the damage would be. | |
| The Kinugawa River bursting its banks took even experts by surprise, especially because of the widespread areas that it has affected. | |
| Just as in previous natural disasters, including the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Japan's non-combat military Self- Defence Force is playing a major role in the rescue operations and they are receiving lots of praise so far. | |
| But there are concerns that these storms are getting stronger in recent years and more preparations may be needed in the future. | |
| In pictures: Floods in Japan | In pictures: Floods in Japan |
| Television footage from Joso in Ibaraki showed people clinging to the rooftops before helicopter rescue teams winched them to safety. | Television footage from Joso in Ibaraki showed people clinging to the rooftops before helicopter rescue teams winched them to safety. |
| Entire homes and cars were carried away on the torrent as the Kinugawa River burst its banks after two days of heavy rainfall. | Entire homes and cars were carried away on the torrent as the Kinugawa River burst its banks after two days of heavy rainfall. |
| In Tochigi, more than 500mm (19 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in places, according to local public broadcaster NHK, which said that was about double what normally falls there throughout the whole of September. | In Tochigi, more than 500mm (19 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in places, according to local public broadcaster NHK, which said that was about double what normally falls there throughout the whole of September. |
| Parts of central Tochigi have seen almost 60cm of rain since Monday evening, breaking records. | Parts of central Tochigi have seen almost 60cm of rain since Monday evening, breaking records. |
| Many other areas of eastern and north-eastern Japan have also been issued weather warnings, including Fukushima prefecture, home to the still-damaged nuclear plant hit in 2011's earthquake and tsunami. | Many other areas of eastern and north-eastern Japan have also been issued weather warnings, including Fukushima prefecture, home to the still-damaged nuclear plant hit in 2011's earthquake and tsunami. |
| The downpour overwhelmed the site's drainage pumps, a spokesman for operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said. Huge volumes of water, used to cool the plant's crippled reactors, are being stored at the site. | The downpour overwhelmed the site's drainage pumps, a spokesman for operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said. Huge volumes of water, used to cool the plant's crippled reactors, are being stored at the site. |
| Landslides and flooding | Landslides and flooding |
| The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 15 people had been injured across Japan. Two were elderly women seriously injured after being knocked over by strong winds. | The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 15 people had been injured across Japan. Two were elderly women seriously injured after being knocked over by strong winds. |
| Local media reported one person missing after a landslide hit a house in Kanuma, Tochigi prefecture. | |
| Some areas had power cuts and transport was disrupted, with many air and train services cancelled or delayed. Some roads were also closed. | Some areas had power cuts and transport was disrupted, with many air and train services cancelled or delayed. Some roads were also closed. |
| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the authorities were doing their best. | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the authorities were doing their best. |
| "The government will stand united and do its best to deal with the disaster... by putting its highest priority on people's lives," he told reporters. | "The government will stand united and do its best to deal with the disaster... by putting its highest priority on people's lives," he told reporters. |
| Last month, powerful Typhoon Goni hit Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu, killing at least one person and injuring 70 others. | Last month, powerful Typhoon Goni hit Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu, killing at least one person and injuring 70 others. |
| Are you in north-east Japan? Are you affected by the floods and landslides? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in north-east Japan? Are you affected by the floods and landslides? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or, you can comment here: | Or, you can comment here: |