Japan: One million people told to evacuate as heavy rain hits Japan
Flooding and landslides are feared as thousands of members of the military are on standby for search and rescue.
Wednesday 3 July 2019 19:37, UK
More than one million people have been told to evacuate their homes and "protect your lives" as heavy rain batters Japan.
Some areas of southern Kyushu - one of the country's main islands - have had a metre of rain (39 inches) since last Friday - and another deluge is expected tomorrow.
There are fears of flooding and landslides and an evacuation directive is in place in three prefectures.
People have been warned to evacuate to designated shelters as 14,000 troops stand by for search and rescue operations.
The heavy rain started last week and dozens of homes have so far been flooded, while an elderly woman died in a mudslide in Kagoshima.
Residents were told "to protect your lives" and evacuate early by Japan's deputy chief cabinet secretary, Kotaro Nogami.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe echoed the warning as he put the military on standby.
Mr Abe's government was criticised last year for its slow response to floods and landslides that killed more than 200 people in Japan's worst weather disaster in 36 years.
The rain is expected to get stronger in the coming days and forecasters predict up to 35cm (13 inches) on Thursday.
There are no penalties for ignoring the government advisory and officials said that by 4pm on Wednesday only around 3,500 people had evacuated at-risk areas.