Deaths hit 176 as Japan’s Abe visits flood victims

The Associated Press could only find ice cream and juices, so he had to go further to find bread and other foods. “We are cut off from the road and we can’t go anywhere by car,”Mr. Hyuga said.

Construction worker Fukuyoshi Doi volunteered to get that done, and supervised other volunteers who gathered to help.

“Mud and dirt is still blocking our local bus route, so we are trying to get that out of the way, so the road can be reopenedfor buses and cars,” he said. “Once we get the mud out, I believe the rest of the workwould pick up.”

The government said 176 people have been confirmed dead after the record-setting rainfall last week caused severe flooding and landslides. Most of the deaths were in Hiroshima and the surrounding area, but the damage was widespread.

More than 20,000 people remained stranded in Hiroshima, Ehime and Kochi prefectures on Wednesday.