Key Points

Local authorities reported that the victims were caught in landslides and river flooding, according to national broadcaster NHK.

In addition, a road collapse caused a vehicle to fall, injuring three people in Ishikawa Prefecture, Xinhua news agency reported. Emergency crews are continuing rescue and recovery operations as heavy rain warnings remain in effect, according to report.

At least two people were also feared dead and several others remained missing in southwestern Japan on Monday as heavy rain continued to hit the region, sparking floods and landslides.

In the town of Kosa, Kumamoto Prefecture, a man, who was evacuating with his family, went missing after their car was swept away by a landslide, Kyodo News reported, citing local authorities and rescuers.

The mother and two children were rescued, while local police said they are confirming the identity of a man who was later found nearby with no vital signs, the report said.

In Yatsushiro City, also in Kumamoto, a woman with no vital signs was found inside a car that had fallen into an irrigation canal, it added.

There were also reports of people being swept away by rivers and landslides washing away houses and cars in Kumamoto and neighbouring Fukuoka prefectures.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a heavy rain emergency warning for parts of Kumamoto Prefecture but downgraded it to a heavy rain warning in the afternoon, while still calling for residents in the affected areas to stay vigilant.

In the six hours through early Monday, Kumamoto Prefecture's hardest-hit Tamana logged 370 millimeters of rainfall, nearly doubling the city's average precipitation for all of August, according to the JMA.

- IANS