Thousands of people in Japan's southern island of Kyushu have been asked to evacuate as torrential rains triggered landslides and floods.
According to officials, 15 people are feared dead and nine reported missing.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged people to be on "maximum alert" as "heavy rainfall is likely to continue until Sunday".
As many as 10,000 soldiers have been deployed to assist in rescue operations.


Israeli strikes kill two in Gaza, destroy medicine storage warehouses
Thirteen die in tourist plane crash over Peru's Nazca Lines
Bomb carried by woman kills three, injures 21 near Moscow restaurant, authorities say
All 10 climbers confirmed killed in Pakistan avalanche
