Japan hunts for flood survivors who killed at least 112

Japan's rescuers dug through the mud and rubble Monday to find survivors after torrential rains that caused floods and landslides that left at least 112 dead and dozens missing. with the worst flood in Japan since 1983, with several million people forced to leave their homes.

Officials said that the overall economic impact was not clear immediately.

The rain collapsed in the southwest region. and the scorching sun plans to push temperatures above 30 ° C, fueling fears of heat stroke in power or water cut areas

"We can not take baths, toilets do not work and our food supply is low," said Yumeko Matsui, whose home in Mihara town has been without water since Saturday

. The water and bottled tea are all gone to convenience stores and other stores, "said the 23-year-old kindergarten worker at a supply station. emergency water.

Hundreds of thousands of people without water

The electricity companies said on Monday that hundreds of thousands of people did not have access to water.

The record reached at least 112 people, many of whom were driven out of their homes, the Japanese public broadcaster announced. A nine-year-old boy was among the dead and 78 missing, he said.

Although persistent rain has ceased, the authorities have warned of sudden showers and thunderstorms, as well as other landslides on the steep slopes of the mountains.

A ruling party official said that Abe had canceled his trip to Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt because of the disaster. He was due to leave on Wednesday

The activities of the industry were also affected, Mazda Motor Corp. The automaker, which suspended operations in several factories last week, said the shutdown will continue in two plants until Tuesday because it can only receive components, although both units do not not be damaged.

Small-scale losses of large corporations

Daihatsu, who suspended production on Friday at four factories, announced that he would be performing the second shift on Monday.

The electronics manufacturer Panasonic said that the activities of a plant remained suspended. the first floor was flooded.

Refineries and oil terminals have not been affected, but blockages in the roads leading to the oil terminal Showa Shell

The actions of some companies have dropped, but the losses were modest, Mazda winning even as investors bet that the damage was limited.

"If rainfall affects supply chains, there will be sales of affected stocks," said Norihiro Fujito, chief investment strategist at Mitsubishi's UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. "Otherwise, the impact will be limited. "

" I hope they find it "

Elsewhere, people have been paid for by the grim task of recovery.

The waters slowly receded in the district Kurashiki's Mabi: Residents returned from evacuation centers and hotels to attack the disorder

"I have never experienced anything like this in my life and I have lived more than 70 years," said Hitoko Asano, age 71. machine, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, PC – they're all destroyed, "she said as she cleaned her two-bedroom house floors

"The clothes in the drawers were all damaged by & # 39; muddy water. I can not help but wonder how much it will cost to fix that. "

A landslide in Hiroshima, shattered Heaps of woods marked the sites of the old houses, showed TV footage.Although the evacuation orders were reduced from the weekend, nearly two million people still face orders or advice to stay away from homes, firefighters and disaster victims.

The economic impact was being evaluated

"There have been serious repercussions on transportation and other infrastructure," said Yasuhiro Yamada, the director of the Bank of Japan's Osaka branch, who oversees the region, d & # 39; a press conference.

"Disruption in the distribution of goods could also have an unexpected impact on the region.

Japan monitors weather and warns early, but its population density means that every piece of usable land is built in the mostly mountainous nation, making it vulnerable to disasters.