Torrential rains cause chaos in Japan
More than 179 people have died and many others are missing after torrential rains caused flooding and landslides across Japan.
The country’s south-west region was the worst affected, with evacuation orders or warnings issued for 4.72 million people. Warnings were also given across several of the nation’s smaller islands, which faced the full force of typhoons (powerful tropical storms). The country’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, cancelled a trip to Europe and the Middle East to focus on the recovery operation.
Around 75,000 members of the Japanese army, coastguard, fire services and police were sent out on search-and-rescue operations, using boats and helicopters to reach remote communities cut off by flooded roads. In some villages people have been seen escaping to their roofs to avoid the rising water, and landslides (a collapse of rocks and dirt from a mountain or cliff) have swept away cars.
Although the worst of the weather was over by 9 July, many parts of the country were still underwater and remained at risk from showers and landslides.