89 people have been killed in landslides in Japan, millions evacuated from nearby areas

Kyodo/Reuters

An aerial view shows local residents seen on the roof of submerged house at a flooded area as they wait for a rescue in Kurashiki, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 7, 2018.

• 89 people have been killed and millions have been evacuated from areas affected by landslides in western Japan.
• Rescuers are continuing to search for people as many are believed to be trapped in their homes amid heavy flooding.
• Authorities on Sunday ordered evacuations for up to 5.9 million people in 19 nearby prefectures.

More than 80 people have been killed and millions have been evacuated from areas affected by landslides in western Japan.

Record rainfall began Thursday and continued over the weekend, pounding western and central prefectures. On Monday morning local time, authorities announced that 89 people had died and at least 58 more are missing, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

Hiroshima Prefecture was hit the hardest, with 38 people reported dead, NHK added.

Rescuers are continuing to search for people stranded by the flooding and landslides, and many people are believed to be trapped in their homes.

Photos have emerged of people trapped on rooftops and others being rescued by boat from buildings submerged by floodwaters.

Authorities on Sunday ordered evacuations for up to 5.9 million people in 19 nearby prefectures, The Japan Times reported. Thirty thousand people had taken refuge in evacuation centers on Sunday afternoon, according to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

"Rescue efforts are a battle with time," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters on Sunday. "The rescue teams are doing their utmost."

Several businesses continued to be affected by flooding, including automaker Mazda Motor Corp. and Daihatsu Motor Co., which suspended factory operations in Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi, the Times added.