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The number of people who died in floods and landslides caused by "historic" torrential rains in Japan rose to 109, with dozens of others missing . Monday, as tens of thousands of rescuers fought mud, water and rubble for survivors stranded in their homes.
At one point, about 5 million people were notified or advised to evacuate. Some of those who decided to stay at home found themselves trapped in water or landslides.
The heaviest rains in Japan in decades have caused the destruction of vast areas of the country, including Hiroshima and the southwest According to some media, 60 people were still missing, while the Japanese public channel NHK increased the number of missing to 79.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe canceled a trip to Europe and the Middle East that was scheduled to begin Wednesday and expanded the search and rescue effort, which now concerns 73,000 members of the self-defense force, police, firefighters and coast guards. by hundreds of helicopters and pedal boats, rescuers continued to rescue people in the buildings, some of them being stranded on the rooftops a few meters above the waterline.
Efforts to locate those who were still stuck turned into "race against time".
In one of the most spectacular rescues, patients and staff members – some still in pajamas – were helped from the balcony of a Kurashiki hospital. Sunday and rowed to safety on military paddle boats.
Officials said that 170 patients and staff had been evacuated from the hospital, while NHK later said about 80 people were still stranded.
"I'm really grateful to the rescuers," said Shigeyuki Asano, a 79-year-old patient who spent a night without electricity or water. "I feel so relieved to have been released from a a place so dark and smelly. "
TV footage from the affected area showed overflowing rivers, submerged vehicles and homes destroyed by landslides. [19659003] Rains are the worst weather-related disaster in Japan since two typhoons hit in rapid succession in August and September 2011, killing nearly 100 people.The death toll is higher than in 2014, when more than 70 people died in the landslides caused by torrential rains to Hiroshima
Parts of southwestern Japan had up to 10cm of rain per hour.The weather agency said.Morning morning, the rain was rainy. soothed in the z those most affected, with high temperatures representing a new risk to the health of people without water or electricity.
"We can not take baths, toilets do not work and our food Stocks are exhausted," said Yumeko Matsui, whose house has been without water since Saturday.
Kaori Ito, Mayor of Kurashiki , said that thousands of evacuees were in desperate need of clothes. "Nobody has anything to wear. We need shirts, pants, underwear, socks and even shoes, "Ito told Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
More than 30,000 people were housed in emergency shelters after Sunday
The meteorological agency described the situation as "extreme danger" and warned that new landslides would occur, even if the water receded.
Younger victims included two sisters who attended a primary school with only six students, Nuwa populated island. "The disaster happened so suddenly, I'm struggling to get through it," said the director of the school. Hiroshima, rescuers found the corpse of a three-year-old girl whose house had been hit by a landslide.
The disaster affected plant manufacturers in the west of Japan automakers biles Mazda and Daihatsu said they suspended their activities in the factories of three prefectures because they were unable to procure parts.
News organizations contributed to this report
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