Separately, five bodies have been found in neighboring Saga Prefecture, which faces the Ariake Sea, and other locations. Believing they were washed away by the heavy rain, local police have been trying to identify them.

Police officers, Self-Defense Forces troops and other rescuers are stepping up their operations as 72 hours have already passed since Wednesday afternoon, when the historic rainfall triggered a series of landslides and floods in the two prefectures. Survival rates are believed to fall rapidly after the critical hours.

But the activities were disrupted by heavy rain in the city of Asakura in Fukuoka, where 316 residents were ordered to evacuate, again.

According to local governments and other authorities, 15 people have been confirmed dead in Asakura, three in the village of Toho also in Fukuoka and three in the city of Hita in Oita.

The Fukuoka prefectural government said it has been unable to reach 25 people in Asakura and one in the city of Ukiha.

Meanwhile, the Oita government announced that 149 people have still been stranded in two districts in Hita. (Jiji Press)