Death toll tops 100 with dozens still missing in Japanese floods
RESCUERS IN south-western Japan have recovered more bodies as they search for dozens of people still missing after heavy rains caused severe flooding and killed more than 100 people.
The fire and disaster management agency said 108 people were confirmed dead as of last night.
Officials and media reports said at least 80 people were still unaccounted for, many of them in the hardest-hit Hiroshima area.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said as much as 3in of rain fell per hour on large parts of the south-western region. All rain warnings have now been lifted.
The assessment of casualties has been difficult because of the widespread area affected by the rainfall, flooding and landslides since late last week. Authorities warned that landslides could strike even after the rain subsides. Officials in Ehime prefecture asked the central government to review weather warning systems.
Some homes were smashed, while others were tilting precariously. Rivers overflowed, turning towns into lakes and leaving dozens of people stranded on rooftops.
Military paddle boats and helicopters helped bring people to the ground.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has cancelled his planned July 1118 trip to Europe and the Middle East to oversee the emergency response.