Houses washed away, dramatic rescues as tsunami-like flood swamps Japan

Etau swept north Friday morning, with torrential rains forcing Japanese authorities to announce a third emergency warning for Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, including the major city of Sendai.

Unprecedented rainfall hit parts of eastern Japan on Wednesday and Thursday, flooding thousands of buildings, triggering at least 60 landslides, and leaving thousands of people stranded. More than 1.6 feet (48.8 cm) of rainwater has been dumped in a day.

A residential area flooded by the Kinugawa river, caused by typhoon Etau, is seen in Joso, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, September 11, 2015 © Issei Kato / Reuters 

Over 400,000 people have been evacuated so far, officials said, adding that around 880 are still awaiting urgent rescue. Over a million residents received evacuation advisories due to quickly rising water. 

A man holding a tray of belongings wades through a road at an area flooded by the Omoigawa river, caused by typhoon Etau in Oyama, Tochigi prefecture, Japan © Kyodo / Reuters 

Military helicopters were seen plucking residents from the roofs of their homes.

Severe rain caused the Kinugawa River to burst its banks, sending a tsunami-like wall of water into Joso, about 50 kilometers northeast of Tokyo.

Credit to RT