Bridge collapses from heavy rain in Japan with 360,000 people evacuated
Dramatic images show how a bridge collapsed in Japan after torrential rain lashed the country.
Evacuation orders were issued for around 360,000 residents in the Kyushu region, which is Japan’s third largest island and its southern-most.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely to continue until at least noon tomorrow.
Residents were also warned of the possibility of landslides and flooding in the area.
The town of Yamato recorded rainfall of 82 millimetres this morning, which is a July record for the area.
The Kaneuchi bridge, which is 120ft (37m) long, collapsed over the Mifune River along the National Route 445 in the town.
The disaster is thought to have caused no injuries.
As of 11am this morning, the areas issued with evacuation orders included the Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures.
Rain has continued to fall heavily in Japan since Thursday.
It was in just September last year that more than eight million people were told to evacuate their homes in one of Japan’s deadliest typhoons recorded in its history.
The super typhoon Nanmadol killed four, injured more than 100 and left thousands without power.
Some areas of Kyushu were reported to have received more than 20 inches of rainfall during that time, which was a figure apparently not seen in the area for decades.
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