TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS
Death toll climbs as Japan scrambles to rescue flood victims
Saka — The death toll from record rains that have devastated parts of Japan rose on Sunday to at least 81, officials said, as rescue workers and troops struggled in the mud and water to save lives. The toll is expected to rise significantly, with dozens of people still unaccounted for in the disaster. More than 2,000 temporarily stranded in the city of Kurashiki, were rescued. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned of a "race against time" to rescue flood victims, some of whom have resorted to tweeting desperate messages seeking help from emergency services. The torrential downpours have caused flash flooding and landslides across central and western Japan, with some villages engulfed by rising waters, and trapped residents taking shelter on their rooftops as floods swirl below. More than 2-million people have been told to evacuate, but the orders are not mandatory and many remained at home, becoming trapped by rapidly rising water or landslides. New alerts The meteorological agency issue...
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