Japan, hit by torrential rains, orders 800,000 to evacuate

TOKYO - Japan ordered nearly 800,000 people on the southern island of Kyushu to take shelter in evacuation centers and other safe areas on Wednesday as heavy rains threatened to trigger landslides and cause other damage.

Some parts of southern Kyushu have received up to 1,000 millimeters of rain since Friday, and forecasters expect as much as 350 mm to fall in some areas by midday on Thursday, broadcaster NHK said.

Evacuation orders were issued for nearly 600,000 residents of Kagoshima city and two smaller cities in the same prefecture, the broadcaster said.