Severe floods sweep Japan

Severe flooding in parts of western Japan - brought on by heavy rains.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated - and at least one person is missing.

According to local media, at least 20,000 people have been issued evacuation orders, as nearby rivers overrun their banks.

Many stores and homes have been inundated - residents attempted to stop the water, but to no avail.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT SAYING:

"We tried to put sandbags but just couldn't make it in time."

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT SAYING:

"We've had flood damage twice before, but this time was the scariest."

The missing person is an elderly man, who police say they suspect may have been washed away by an overflowing river.

While the rains had died down, more downpours were expected late Tuesday, with Japan's meteorological agency warning against more flooding and landslides.

Travis Brecher, Reuters