Flooding in Japan

Transcript:

And actually I just want to bring you up to date on another story which is the situation in Japan where millions of people have been told to leave their homes because of extensive flooding and landslides that have already claimed more than eighty lives. Record rainfall has caused rivers to burst their banks in Hiroshima and other areas. Many people remain trapped by the flood waters as Caroline Hawley reports.

More than 50,000 rescuers are now involved in what the authorities are calling a race against time. These hospital patients were saved by the Japanese militiary. This is where they were rescued from. The only escape was either by helicopter from the rooftop or by boat. And here you see why. Some people are reported to be still stranded in the hospital and they're not alone. A swathe of western Japan has beeen hitted by unprecidented rainfall that's caused flash flooding and landslides. Many people died because they weren't able to flee in time, among them an eighty year old couple and a three year old girl. And the death toll will certainly rise.

"I went to my father's home but it was hopeless. We were looking for two people and only found one."

Several million people have been told to move to safer ground if they can. Those trapped in their homes have been advised to move to higher floors. Some are already as high as they can go, and have tweeted desperate calls for help.

"Even now we've not been able to confirm the safety of quite a lot of people and there are many who are stranded facing the terror of impending inundation and waiting for rescue."

Nature has delivered this part of Japan a devastating blow and it's not finished yet. More rain is forecast and with it, officials say. is a serious risk of more landslides. Caroline Hawley, BBC News.