The land ministry and the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of possible inundation in some areas in the city of Daisen.

Evacuation orders were issued for a total of more than 24,000 people of 9,200 households in Daisen, the cities of Senboku and Yurihonjo, and the town of Misato.

The meteorological agency said 24-hour rainfall until 9:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m. GMT) is believed to have reached a record 348 millimeters in the Yuwa district in Akita, the capital of the prefecture.

East Japan Railway Co. , or JR East, decided to halt the Akita Shinkansen bullet train services throughout Sunday between Akita Station and Morioka Station in the neighboring prefecture of Iwate.

The agency said the heavy rain has made the ground loose, raising the risk of mudslides. (Jiji Press)