Unprecedented rainfall causes floods and landslides in Kyushu

by Joseph Saraceno
Streets are submerged after a river overflowed its banks in Kumamoto, Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Heavy rains hit southern Japan, triggering flashfloods, mudslides and destroying dozens of homes.

At least 20 people died and 50,000 were ordered to evacuate as the heaviest rainfall on record pounded the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu. Rainfall of 10.1 centimetres (about 4 inches) per hour was recorded in the southern region of Kagoshima. In the city of Aso in Kumamoto prefecture, landslides buried several households.