Great rains in Japan, thousands evacuated

Tens of thousands of people in northeastern Japan have been told to evacuate their homes Sunday after the heavy rain caused heavy floods and expected several railway connections, authorities said.

The storm follows the ugly rain in southwestern Japan earlier this month that left at least 25 people dead.

Almost 25,000 people in the Akita Prefecture were ordered to evacuate, and about 65,000 people were advised to leave or were told to prepare to leave the area, an official in Akita Prefecture told Reuters.

Some rivers were flooded, and more than 100 houses were flooded by flood waters, the official said. No victims or deaths have been reported, but authorities are still investigating, he added.

Some fast trains coming and coming from Akita have been suspended because of the rains.