TOKYO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Some 500 houses remained flooded while over 20,000 residents were still under evacuation following the torrential rain over the weekend in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, local government said on Monday.
Torrential rains have lashed northeastern Japan over the weekend, with over 300 millimeters of rainfall observed at multiple areas in Akita prefecture through Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The rain has triggered widespread flooding and a series of mudslides, though so far no injury or death has been reported, according to the government.
Some 120,000 residents in Akita prefecture were ordered or advised to evacuate on Sunday due to risks of flooding and landslides. Evacuation orders for some 21,000 of them were still not lifted on Monday.
Water supply was cut off in five cities of the prefecture due to damage to pipes, and part of the Shinkansen bullet train service in the disaster-hit areas was suspended on Monday, said local reports.
Some 340 households in the city of Daisen, one of the hardest hit areas, were stranded on Sunday due to damaged roads. The road access was largely restored on Monday, though as of 5:30 p.m. local time one village still remained isolated.
The JMA warned that more heavy rain is expected in the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan and Hokuriku area on the Sea of Japan coast through Tuesday, and urged residents in Akita and Niigata prefectures to remain vigilant for fear of further flooding or landslides.
