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TOKYO (Reuters) – Forty-nine people have been killed and unaccounted for in Japan as a whole, public broadcaster NHK said on Saturday, with more than 1.6 million evacuated from their homes.
Japan's Meteorological Agency retained special warnings for three prefectures in the main island of Honshu, rising from highs, and rising vigilance against landslides, rising rivers and strong winds amid what it called "historic" rains.
Helicopter footage showing people on their roofs in Kurashiki, and Japanese soldiers rescuing children by boat from a flooded river in Hiroshima.
In Motoyama, a town on Shikoku island, about 600 km (373 miles) from the capital Tokyo, 583 mm (23 inches) of rain fell between Friday and Saturday morning, the agency said.
Although Japan had a heavy rain, it was a risk heavy rains would continue, with already-saturated areas facing more rain on Sunday.
Among the dead are a man who fell to a bridge in a Hiroshima city, and a 77-year-old man in Takashima, 56 km (35 miles) The former capital of Kyoto, who was swept into a channel as he worked to remove debris, said NHK.
Four people in Ehime, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures were in critical condition after being injured in landslides, it added.
By Saturday morning, more than 1.6 million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes for fear of flooding and further landslides, with 3.1 million more informed to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said about 48,000 police, firefighters and members of Japan's self-defense forces were responding to appeals for help.
The weather also hit industry. Some automakers halted production as the rain and flooding of supply chains and safety workers, Kyodo news agency said.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. 7211.T ), said Kyodo. Mazda Motor Corp. ( 7261.T ) stopped production lines at two plants in the United States.
Reuters could not reach the firms for business.
Reporting by Thomas Wilson; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Hugh Lawson
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