51 dead and 48 missing after Japan is hit by torrential rains

At least 51 people are dead and 48 are missing after record-shattering torrential rains hit western and central Japan on Saturday, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

More than 1.6 million people have been ordered to evacuate from their homes by Saturday morning and 3.1 million others were advised to leave after Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued weather warnings across the country.

Around 48,000 police, firefighters, and military personnel were called to at least 100 landslide incidents and other emergencies.