• Asia: At least 26 dead in Japan by the passage of Typhoon Hagibis

The search and rescue work continued on Monday in the central, eastern and northeastern areas of Japan that were affected by the passage this weekend of a powerful typhoon that left at least 56 dead and serious floods.

More than 110,000 police, fire, coastguard and Self-Defense Forces (army) personnel participate in the operations, according to government figures collected by the public network NHK.

Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono, who ordered the deployment of 31,000 officers, recalled during an emergency meeting picked up by the chain's cameras that the first 72 hours are crucial when it comes to saving lives.

The rescue efforts could be complicated by the rain forecast for Monday in the affected areas, especially in the evening, and the authorities asked to take extreme caution due to an increased risk of flooding and landslides, which is already softened by the typhoon's record rainfall.

The population was asked to stay away from dangerous areas such as rivers and mountain slopes.

The number of fatalities caused by the passage by Japan of Typhoon Hagibis amounted to 56 at the end of Monday, according to a balance of the public chain NHK. Some 15 people are also missing and about two hundred were injured, according to figures collected from rescue forces and local authorities.

Hagibis, the nineteenth typhoon of the season in the Pacific that on Sunday was degraded to extratropical cyclone after hitting Japan, left record rains in some areas of the archipelago because its great strength and extent left heavy rainfall dispersed over a wide area for hours.

The rains caused numerous levees located along at least 21 rivers in the country to collapse, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the country. According to local media, a total of 176 rivers overflowed.

Nagano Prefecture was one of the most affected by flooding due to the overflow of the Chikuma River, which flows through the region. He denied several locations, leaving his residents stranded, which had to be rescued by helicopter and boats.

"Everything in my house was dragged before my eyes. It was like a nightmare . I feel fortunate to be alive," said a woman who was rescued in statements to the NHK network.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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