Toll tops 100; many missing
MIHARA: Rescuers in western Japan yesterday dug through mud and rubble in a race to find survivors after torrential rains unleashed floods and landslips that killed more than 100 people, with dozens more missing.
Rain tapered off across the region battered by last week’s downpour, revealing blue skies and scorching sun forecast to push temperatures above 30degC, fuelling fears of heatstroke in areas cut off from power or water.
The death toll reached at least 109 after floodwaters forced sev eral million from their homes, NHK national television said. It is the highest such figure since 117 people were killed in heavy rains in 1983. Among the dead was a boy aged 9.
Water still covered much of the hardhit city of Kurashiki, despite ebbing floods that opened the route to a hospital where nearly 100 patients and staff were stranded on Sunday.
Nearly 2 million people still face orders or advice to keep away from homes, disaster officials said. — Reuters