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Japan floods: Rescuers search flooded city of Joso Japan floods: Rescue work continues after deadly disaster
(about 2 hours later)
Rescue workers have searched through the night in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures in Japan, where hundreds of people have been stranded by flooding. Rescue work is continuing in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures in Japan, where hundreds of people have been stranded by flooding.
At least one person is confirmed to have been killed by a landslide which hit homes in Kanuma City in Tochigi. At least two people have been confirmed killed and 25 people are still missing across the regions worst hit.
Twenty-two people are still missing after the Kinugawa River near the city of Joso burst its banks, sweeping away cars and destroying homes. Many people had to wait overnight to be rescued from the roofs of their homes near Joso city, after the Kinugawa River burst its banks on Thursday.
Officials have warned of further heavy rain and the risk of mudslides.Officials have warned of further heavy rain and the risk of mudslides.
An evacuation warning was also issued for 410,000 people in Sendai, capital of Miyagi prefecture, on Friday morning, after the Nanakitagawa River flooded in Izumi Ward. An evacuation warning was also issued for 410,000 people in Sendai, capital of Miyagi prefecture, on Friday morning, after the Nanakitagawa River flooded in Izumi ward, swamping homes and fields.
The Shibui River in the mostly rural city of Osaki in Miyagi prefecture, around 350 km (220 miles) north of Tokyo, also burst its banks on Friday morning, inundating rice fields and houses. Rescuers in boats and helicopters are rescuing stranded residents there.
The rainfall comes in the wake of Typhoon Etau, which ploughed through Japan earlier this week.The rainfall comes in the wake of Typhoon Etau, which ploughed through Japan earlier this week.
Emergency crews have been plucking dozens of people from rooftops in dramatic scenes. Thousands of people have already been taken to temporary shelters. Some 51 helicopters and nearly 6,000 rescuers worked through the night on Thursday.
Japan's national broadcaster NHK said that in Joso alone, nearly 700 people were still stranded and waiting for help on Thursday evening. Emergency crews in Joso have been plucking dozens of people from rooftops after waiting overnight. They were taken to an athletic field in the city, many carrying almost nothing with them. Some arrived without even shoes.
The Kyodo news agency said that by Friday morning, 22 people remained unaccounted for in Joso. More than 3,500 people have been taken to temporary shelters during the disaster.
The one confirmed fatality was a 63-year-old woman who was in a building hit by a landslide, local media said. Japan's public broadcaster NHK said that in Joso alone, nearly 700 people were still stranded and waiting for help on Thursday evening.
Officials in the city of 60,000, about 50km northeast of Tokyo, said 22 people there had lost contact after requesting help. NHK reported that two eight-year-old children were believed to be among them.
Floodwaters had subsided somewhat by dawn on Friday, but much of the city was still under water and it is not clear when evacuees will be able to return home.
Across the affected region, one 63-year-old woman was killed after her house was hit by a landslide in Kanuma City in Tochigi.
A second woman, 48, was killed after her car was swept away in Kurihara city, Miyagi prefecture.
At least 27 people have been injured, eight seriously.
Sixty-two year old Hisako Sekimoto, who was rescued by military helicopter in the early morning, said she spent a sleepless night on the upper floor of her flooded house with her husband and three cats.
"There was no time to escape. All we could do was go upstairs. It was horrifying,'' she said. "I kept praying the water wouldn't come upstairs."
Akira Motokawa, a Joso city evacuation official, told NHK that rescuers have been unable to keep up with the volume of calls for help.
Analysis: Mariko Oi, BBC News, JapanAnalysis: Mariko Oi, BBC News, 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.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.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 it is receiving lots of praise so far.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 it is 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.But there are concerns that these storms are getting stronger in recent years and more preparations may be needed in the future.
The chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Takuya Deshimaru, has said the rainfall over the past few days was "unprecedented".The chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Takuya Deshimaru, has said the rainfall over the past few days was "unprecedented".
In Tochigi, more than 500mm (19 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in places, double the amount that normally falls there throughout the whole of September, according to NHK.In Tochigi, more than 500mm (19 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in places, double the amount that normally falls there throughout the whole of September, according to NHK.
Parts of central Tochigi have seen almost 600mm of rain since Monday evening, breaking records.Parts of central Tochigi have seen almost 600mm 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 the 2011 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 the 2011 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.
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.
Japan has emphasised disaster prevention since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people. Authorities have been keen to avoid the criticism they faced at the time for what was seen as a sluggish response.