Speed Reads

flooding

1.6 million evacuate lethal flooding in Japan

At least 49 people have been killed and another 48 people are missing in Japan as unusually heavy rains have caused lethal flooding. Some 1.6 million people have been evacuated to escape the floods, which are inundating three regions on the main island of Honshu.

The "historic" rains are expected to continue Saturday, and authorities have warned landslides are an additional consequence of the downpour. Another 3.1 million people have been encouraged to evacuate, and nearly 50,000 rescue workers and police have been deployed to help those in affected areas.