TOKYO: The death toll in Japan floods and landslides reached 50 with security personnel scrambling to rescue people trapped by devastating floods.

Pounding rain since early Saturday in Japan’s southern region of Kyushu has triggered widespread flooding. More rain was predicted in Kyushu and the western half of Japan’s main island as the downpour moved east.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its second-highest emergency warning for heavy rain and landslides over vast swathes of the country’s  southwest and said “risks are rising” nationwide.

At least 50 deaths have been confirmed in the rains that started early Saturday and added that the death toll is likely to go up, Japanese media said.

(With inputs from Agencies)