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Japan flooding: Fears for nursing home amid torrential rain Japan flooding: Many feared dead in flooded care home
(about 4 hours later)
At least 14 people are feared dead at a nursing home on Japan's southern island of Kyushu as unprecedented rainfall caused landslides and massive floods. Fifteen people are believed dead and nine are missing on Japan's southern island of Kyushu as devastating rains cause flooding and landslides.
Tens of thousands of people have been told to evacuate homes. The Kuma river in Kumamoto prefecture burst its banks. Fourteen victims were found in the same flooded nursing home while the other was pulled from a landslide. The deaths have yet to be formally certified.
PM Shinzo Abe ordered 10,000 troops to be deployed, after rescue services were overwhelmed with calls for help. The authorities have ordered more than 200,000 to evacuate and 10,000 soldiers are being sent to help rescuers.
Mr Abe said heavy rain was predicted to continue until Sunday and urged people to be on "maximum alert". Heavy rain is predicted to continue overnight into Sunday.
The prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima have been worst hit by the rainfall. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged people to be on "maximum alert".
Kumamoto's governor, Ikuo Kabashima, told reporters the victims at the nursing home were found "in cardio-respiratory arrest" a term used in Japan before a doctor officially certifies death. The prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima have been worst hit.
Another two people were feared to have been killed in a landslide in the town of Tsunagi, although this also is not officially confirmed. Kumamoto's governor, Ikuo Kabashima, told reporters the victims at the nursing home had been found "in cardio-respiratory arrest" - a term used in Japan before a doctor officially certifies death.
Mr Abe said "there is information of people who may have fallen victim to landslides".
Other people are believed missing but there are no official figures.
Footage shows a bridge over the Kuma river washed away, with other pictures of submerged cars and houses.Footage shows a bridge over the Kuma river washed away, with other pictures of submerged cars and houses.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said such rainfall had never been seen before in the region.Japan's Meteorological Agency said such rainfall had never been seen before in the region.
One woman who sought refuge at an evacuation centre said she had never imagined rain could be so powerful, while another said she could feel the vibrations of the churning water from a nearby river
Haruka Yamada, who lives in Ashikita in Kumamoto prefecture, told Kyodo: "I saw large trees and parts of houses being washed away and heard them crashing into something. The air is filled with the smell of leaking gas and sewage."Haruka Yamada, who lives in Ashikita in Kumamoto prefecture, told Kyodo: "I saw large trees and parts of houses being washed away and heard them crashing into something. The air is filled with the smell of leaking gas and sewage."
The NHK broadcaster says there are reports eight homes in the town's Takinoue district were washed away. The NHK broadcaster says there are reports that eight homes in the town's Takinoue district were washed away.