15 feared dead due to flooding in Japan

Nine people were missing and 15 others feared dead due to massive flooding triggered by torrential rain in the southwestern Japanese prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima on Saturday, local media reported, reported Xinhua.

Of the 15 without vital signs, 14 were found at a nursery home in Kuma in Kumamoto Prefecture, close to a river that overflowed.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) raised heavy rain warnings in many parts of the prefectures to the highest level on Saturday morning, the first time it has issued such high alerts for the two prefectures.

According to the agency, Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture received record precipitation of 98 millimeters per hour.

A local bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said the Kuma River in Kumamoto overflowed and some 20 meters of a dike of the river in Hitoyoshi collapsed.

Due to extensive flooding of the river, the prefectural government asked for the dispatch of Ground Self-Defense Force personnel for disaster relief work.

About 203,200 residents in the two prefectures were asked to take shelter. In 17 municipalities in Kumamoto, 109 shelters were opened to house at least 871 evacuees.

Shinkansen bullet train services in the prefectures have been suspended, Kyushu Railway Co. said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers that about 10,000 Self-Defense Forces troops would be mobilized for relief operation, while relief supplies would be shipped to affected residents.

The JMA forecast that heavy rains will continue through Sunday, alerting people of overflowing rivers, mudslides and flooding in low-lying areas.