Tokyo. Heavy rain in Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu has caused flooding and muddy landslides, injuring many people and affecting traffic during the Buddhist holiday week. Several people are reported missing.

One person is missing and four others have been injured in the southern province of Kagoshima after heavy rains began late last week. A low-pressure system stuck in the region has brought more rain to the northern parts of Kyushu.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a high-level warning in Kumamoto on Monday morning, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency issued evacuation advisories to tens of thousands of people in Kumamoto and six other prefectures in the region.

Rescue workers in the area are searching for many people. In Kumamoto, they were searching for three people. A three-member family was hit by a landslide while driving towards the export centre. Two people were rescued alive, but the third person is still missing. Two others have gone missing in the province.

Several others were reported missing after falling into the growing river in Kumamoto and nearby Fukuoka prefecture. Television footage showed muddy water flowing, broken trees and branches washed away, and residents walking in knee-deep floodwaters.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said his government was assisting in the search and rescue of missing people and helping others in the affected areas. He urged residents to “take maximum precautions” while encouraging them to “prioritise actions to save their lives”.

Heavy rains have also affected people traveling during Japan’s Buddhist ‘Bon’ holiday week. Bullet trains and local train services connecting Kakoshima and Hakata in northern Kyushu were suspended on Monday morning.

Services were partially resumed in areas where rainfall was low. According to Kyushu Electric Power Company, about 6,000 households in Kumamoto are without electricity.