Floods in Japan leave two dead, thousands evacuated

At least two people died in Japan on Friday as heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, leading to the evacuation of 4,000 people, according to authorities and media reports.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced that local authorities in Yamagata and Akita prefectures, located in northern Honshu, issued evacuation notices for over 200,000 residents.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that at least 4,000 individuals were relocated to shelters. Rivers in Yamagata and Akita overflowed, with NHK showing footage of brown floodwaters sweeping away several cars, including a police vehicle.

In Yamagata, a 20-year-old police officer searching for a missing person was found and later pronounced dead. In northern Akita, another body was found, with police investigating whether it belonged to an 86-year-old man reported missing.

Many others remain unaccounted for, including a medic, a search and rescue officer, and a 60-year-old man missing after a landslide during road construction in Yuzawa, Akita.

Japan's Meteorological Agency issued the highest alert level for heavy rainfall in Yamagata earlier this week but lowered the alert by one level on its five-tier scale. However, the agency continued to urge vigilance against the risks of landslides and flooding.

In recent years, Japan has experienced unprecedented heavy rains in various regions, leading to frequent floods and landslides that have sometimes resulted in casualties.