Record heavy rain caused rivers to overflow, washing away bridges and cars and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people across parts of northern Japan, said officials and media reports on Friday (Jul&nbsp;26).

One person died and four are missing after the heavy downpours in Yamagata and Akita prefectures on the main island of Honshu.

Police reported that a 60-year-old man was missing after a landslide at roadworks in Yuzawa City, while an 86-year-old man was unaccounted for after last being seen on a riverbank in Akita City.

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According to media reports, one body was found in Akita City.

A local official in Yamagata, where two rivers burst their banks, told AFP that "three people, including two police officers who were on a mission searching for a missing man, are unaccounted for."

Two parts of the Yamagata region experienced the highest 24-hour rainfall since records began in 1976, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Shinjo region&nbsp;recorded 389 millimetres and Sakata 289 millimetres.

Authorities issued evacuation orders to more than 200,000 people, Japan's&nbsp;fire and disaster management agency said.&nbsp;

Despite the severe conditions, at least 4,000 people evacuated to shelters, according to public broadcaster NHK.

At least 3,060 households were reported to be without power, while 1,100 had no running water.&nbsp;

Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told&nbsp;reporters&nbsp;that some motorways have been closed in the area and Shinkansen bullet trains have suspended operations due to the heavy rainfall.&nbsp;

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Notably, Japan's weather agency earlier this week issued its highest emergency alert for heavy rains for Sakata and Yuza in the Yamagata region.

Later, the warning was downgraded by one notch in the country's five-tier warning system, but authorities urged the public to remain vigilant for potential landslides and flooding.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts around 100 to 200 millimetres of rain per day will continue for the next three days.

(With inputs from agencies)

Record heavy rain caused rivers to overflow, washing away bridges and cars and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people across parts of northern Japan, said officials and media reports on Friday (Jul 26).

Record heavy rain caused rivers to overflow, washing away bridges and cars and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people across parts of northern Japan, said officials and media reports on Friday (Jul 26). One person died and four are missing after the heavy downpours in Yamagata and Akita prefectures on the main island of Honshu. Police reported that a 60-year-old man was missing after a landslide at roadworks in Yuzawa City, while an 86-year-old man was unaccounted for after last being seen on a riverbank in Akita City. Also read: French high-speed rail network sabotaged ahead of Olympics opening ceremony According to media reports, one body was found in Akita City. A local official in Yamagata, where two rivers burst their banks, told AFP that "three people, including two police officers who were on a mission searching for a missing man, are unaccounted for." Two parts of the Yamagata region experienced the highest 24-hour rainfall since records began in 1976, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on Friday. Meanwhile, the Shinjo region recorded 389 millimetres and Sakata 289 millimetres. Authorities issued evacuation orders to more than 200,000 people, Japan's fire and disaster management agency said. Despite the severe conditions, at least 4,000 people evacuated to shelters, according to public broadcaster NHK. At least 3,060 households were reported to be without power, while 1,100 had no running water. Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that some motorways have been closed in the area and Shinkansen bullet trains have suspended operations due to the heavy rainfall. Also read: Typhoon Gaemi hits China, displaces nearly 300,000 in eastern region Notably, Japan's weather agency earlier this week issued its highest emergency alert for heavy rains for Sakata and Yuza in the Yamagata region. Later, the warning was downgraded by one notch in the country's five-tier warning system, but authorities urged the public to remain vigilant for potential landslides and flooding. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts around 100 to 200 millimetres of rain per day will continue for the next three days. (With inputs from agencies)

At least one killed, thousands evacuated amid record rainfall in Japan

Emergency services in western Japan were "racing against time" Tuesday to rescue people stranded by devastating floods and landslides that have killed at least 52, as the country braced for more torrential downpours.

Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its second-highest emergency warning for heavy rain and landslides over vast swathes of the country's southwest and said "risks are rising" nationwide.

Television footage showed swollen rivers breaking their banks and sweeping away bridges while landslides destroyed roads and buried houses, complicating access for the 80,000 rescue personnel battling to save lives.

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At least 52&nbsp;deaths have been confirmed in the rains that began early Saturday, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said, but the toll is expected to rise, with four more feared dead and over a dozen reported missing.

He warned that more heavy rain was forecast over the next two days, saying: "Even a small amount of rainfall could cause a disaster. I would like people to be on full alert against landslides and floods."

In the hardest-hit region of Kumamoto, on the southwest tip of Japan, disaster management official Yutaro Hamasaki said: "We are racing against time."

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"We have not set any deadline or time to end the operation, but we really need to speed up our search as time is running out. We won't give up to the end," Hamasaki said.

Fourteen of the dead were wheelchair-bound residents of a nursing home unable to escape to higher ground as the waters rose.

A rescue worker who searched the facility told NHK: "The ground floor was filled with water and we couldn't get into it. Some people managed to evacuate to the first floor. I've never experienced anything like this in my life."

Further complicating evacuation efforts was the fear of spreading the coronavirus.

Japan has been relatively lightly affected by the pandemic, with just under 20,000 cases and fewer than 1,000 deaths.

But the need to maintain social distancing has reduced capacity at evacuation shelters.

The disaster has also compounded problems for businesses already hard hit by the pandemic.

Japan is in the middle of its annual rainy season, which frequently unleashes deadly floods and landslides. Climate change has intensified the risks of heavy rains, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

In 2018, more than 200 people died in devastating floods in the same region of Japan.

Emergency services in western Japan were "racing against time" Tuesday to rescue people stranded by devastating floods and landslides that have killed at least 52, as the country braced for more torrential downpours.

Emergency services in western Japan were "racing against time" Tuesday to rescue people stranded by devastating floods and landslides that have killed at least 52, as the country braced for more torrential downpours. Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its second-highest emergency warning for heavy rain and landslides over vast swathes of the country's southwest and said "risks are rising" nationwide. Television footage showed swollen rivers breaking their banks and sweeping away bridges while landslides destroyed roads and buried houses, complicating access for the 80,000 rescue personnel battling to save lives. At least 52 deaths have been confirmed in the rains that began early Saturday, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said, but the toll is expected to rise, with four more feared dead and over a dozen reported missing. He warned that more heavy rain was forecast over the next two days, saying: "Even a small amount of rainfall could cause a disaster. I would like people to be on full alert against landslides and floods." In the hardest-hit region of Kumamoto, on the southwest tip of Japan, disaster management official Yutaro Hamasaki said: "We are racing against time." In pictures: Battling the deadly Japan floods "We have not set any deadline or time to end the operation, but we really need to speed up our search as time is running out. We won't give up to the end," Hamasaki said. Fourteen of the dead were wheelchair-bound residents of a nursing home unable to escape to higher ground as the waters rose. A rescue worker who searched the facility told NHK: "The ground floor was filled with water and we couldn't get into it. Some people managed to evacuate to the first floor. I've never experienced anything like this in my life." Further complicating evacuation efforts was the fear of spreading the coronavirus. Japan has been relatively lightly affected by the pandemic, with just under 20,000 cases and fewer than 1,000 deaths. But the need to maintain social distancing has reduced capacity at evacuation shelters. The disaster has also compounded problems for businesses already hard hit by the pandemic. Japan is in the middle of its annual rainy season, which frequently unleashes deadly floods and landslides. Climate change has intensified the risks of heavy rains, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water. In 2018, more than 200 people died in devastating floods in the same region of Japan.

Japan : Atleast 52 dead in floods and landslides as rescuers 'race against time'

Torrential rains trigger floods & landslide in southern islands of Japan. Over 8,000 homes get without electricity and communication due to heavy rainfall.

Torrential rains trigger floods & landslide in southern islands of Japan