FUKUOKA/OITA- The death toll from record rainfall that devastated areas in the southwestern Japan prefectures of Fukuoka and Oita has risen to 15, with more than 20 people missing and over 600 stranded, local authorities said Friday.

The central government mobilized a total of 12,000 Self-Defense Forces troops, police officers, firefighters and Japan Coast Guard officers to conduct search and rescue operations in the two prefectures. The number of rescue personnel was increased from 7,800 on Thursday.

With western Japan still covered by the seasonal rain front that caused the torrential rain in the northern part of the Kyushu southwestern region 7 beginning on

Wednesday, heavy rain is forecast for northern Kyushu and neighboring Yamaguchi Prefecture through Saturday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The Fukuoka city of Kitakyushu issued evacuation instructions Friday morning to some 49,000 people to prevent damage from landslides and flooding.

A total of 11 people remain unaccounted for in the city of Asakura and three in the village of Toho , both in Fukuoka , while 12 people are still missing in the Oita city of Hita , according to the prefectures.

The Fukuoka prefectural government said about 340 people are isolated in Toho after roads were cut off. Some 150 people are stranded in Asakura.

At a meeting of relevant ministers held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the disaster area situation remains severe, calling for strengthening measures to prevent further damage and to boost recovery efforts. (Jiji Press)