The weekend's heavy rainfall in southwestern Japan has led to major flooding and landslides in Kumamoto prefecture, which is the worst affected region. And another 30 districts in the prefecture have been isolated as a result of the weather.

20 people have been confirmed dead, another 14 are feared dead and 14 are missing, writes the country's public service company NHK with reference to local authorities.

10,000 help

On the news, images have been shown of destroyed houses, upside down cars, people shoveling mud from their homes and military rescuing stranded people with boats and helicopters.

In the village of Kuma Village, 14 people in a retirement home are feared to have died after the site was flooded.

According to AP, up to 10,000 people from the military, the Coast Guard and the fire brigade have been called in to participate in relief efforts around the region.

Afraid to get infected

When the rain came, over 200,000 people in Kumamoto were invited to leave their homes. But since the evacuation was not mandatory, many chose to stay in their homes for fear of being infected by the corona virus, despite authorities saying that measures to minimize the risk of infection have been taken at the evacuation centers that exist, the AP writes.

More rain is expected to come during Sunday, the country's meteorological institute reports, according to Reuters.