Japan’s weather agency issued its highest-level landslide warning for Niijima Island on Monday amid heavy rain, state media reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a Level 5 emergency warning after a record 381 millimetres (15 inches) of rain fell on the island in the 24 hours through Monday, state broadcaster NHK reported.
Niijima is a volcanic island located about 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Tokyo.
Heavy rain also struck eastern Japan from early Monday, prompting the JMA to issue Level 4 landslide alerts for parts of Chiba and Saitama prefectures, neighbouring Tokyo and central Fukushima prefecture.
Weather officials warned of further rainfall across wide areas facing the Pacific as warm, damp air approaches a rain front stretching along the main island of Honshu.
They urged people in affected areas to remain on high alert for landslides and other disasters.
