Floods wreak devastation on Kyushu

ASAKURA, Japan - Rescuers are scrambling to find more than 20 people missing after huge floods swept across Japan's south this week, killing six and leaving a trail of destruction.

Raging rivers overflowing with water and mud have devastated swathes of Kyushu island after heavy rainfall, swept away roads and houses and destroyed schools.

Thousands of rescuers have been fighting through thick mud and battling the rain to search for missing and stranded people, with more than 1,100 believed to be cut off according to public broadcaster NHK.