Thousands Flee As Flood Consume Homes

The continuous flow of heavy torrential rain has left thousands with no choice but to flee their homes in Japan.
The Kinugawa River burst through a flood barrier, sending a tsunami-like wave into Joso, about 30 miles northeast of Japan's capital Tokyo, coming on the heels of Tropical Storm Etau.

Residents were left stranded and waving for help from their roofs as rescue workers used helicopters to pluck them to safety.

National broadcaster NHK showed footage of a military helicopter descending four times in a 20-minute period to rescue four people, one at a time, as the floodwaters surrounded their home.

Tokyo was also hit by heavy rain but the worst affected parts of the country were in the north, in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures.

A woman was reported missing after a landslide hit and the country's fire service said 15 people had been hurt, including two elderly women seriously injured after being knocked over by strong winds.