Japan Flooding Forces More Than 1 Million to Flee; 4 Killed

At least four people died, more than a dozen were reported missing and as many as 1.3 million fled their homes after storms and flooding struck western and central Japan, officials said.

All four deaths were on the main island of Honshu, according to the Associated Press. Three people died after being swept away by floodwaters, and the other victim, an elderly woman, was killed by strong winds, multiple reports said.

Crews are searching for several people who went missing in a mudslide in Hiroshima, the report added. Missing people have also been reported in Nara, Kochi and Fukuoka prefecture.

In some areas of the island, the storms brought as much as twice the average July rainfall for the entire month, according to Reuters.

Referring to the threat of landslides and damaging winds, the Japan Meteorological Agency told reporters, "Severe caution is needed." The country's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said more than 150,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, and another 1.2 million were urged to flee Friday morning as conditions worsened, Reuters added.

Officials were especially worried about landslides in Osaka, where a recent earthquake might have weakened the ground, the French Press Agency reported.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency also told Reuters that the weather has caused dozens of injuries, four of which were serious. The flooding also halted train service across much of the affected area, the report added.

Some areas could see additional rainfall from Super Typhoon Maria as it tracks toward southern Japan early next week.