The death toll rises to 76 as heavy rains hit southern Japan

Research continued on Sunday night for heavy rain victims who hammered south Japan for the third day in a row, while the government increased the death toll to 48, with 28 others believed dead . Another 92 people were unknown, mainly in the southern prefecture of Hiroshima. More than 100 reports of injuries were received, such as cars being taken away, he added. Forty helicopters were on rescue mission

"Rescue operations are a battle against time," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. "The rescue teams are doing everything they can."

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that three hours of rainfall in a region of Kochi Prefecture reached 26.3 centimeters (10.4 inches), the highest since 1976

. The badessment of the victims has been difficult because of the extensive area affected by rainfall, floods and landslides. Authorities have warned that landslides could hit even after the rain has calmed down, with calamity potentially the worst in decades.

Landslide Zones

In Hiroshima Prefecture, water was flowing in a residential area dotted with telephone poles. trees and mud. Some houses have been destroyed.

A woman who was reported missing after being trapped in her car was found but was declared dead, Kyodo News Service reported. In another area of ​​Hiroshima, 12 people were reported missing when a residential area was snorted by a landslide, and a body was found later.

Kochi Prefecture, on Shikoku, issued nearly entire landslide warnings. Public broadcaster NHK TV showed cars overturned on mud-covered roads. A convenience store employee, who had taken refuge on a nearby roof, said that the water had reached the height of his head

The Japanese government set up an emergency office , designed for crises such as big earthquakes. Military paddle boats were also used to bring people to the mainland.

Okayama Prefecture said in a statement that four people had died, eight others went missing and eleven wounded, at least one of them seriously. Seven houses were destroyed, dozens of others were damaged and over 570 were flooded.

Kyodo reported several deaths during a landslide in Hiroshima and other bodies were found in the former capital of Kyoto.

In hard-hit areas, rivers swelled and parked cars sat in puddles. Japan sent troops, firefighters, police and other disaster relief. People have also taken social media to ask for help.