Defence forces soldiers remove debris in a flooded area in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture on July 9, 2017. / AFP.
Tokyo: The death toll from the record rainfall in Japan's northern Kyushu reached 21 on Monday, Japan's (NHK World) reported.
Weather officials warn severe thunderstorm may again hit parts of the affected areas Monday. They call for caution against more mudslides.
Officials of Fukuoka Prefecture said more than 20 people in the prefecture are still missing or unaccounted for as of Monday.
The police have announced they found another person without vital signs by a river in Asakura City in Fukuoka Prefecture on Monday morning.
The land and transport ministry said that, landslides were reported at 41 locations, and flooding and overflowing of rivers at 38 locations in the five prefectures affected by the deluge.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday the government will quickly estimate the extent of damage with the cooperation of local governments.
He said the government will make a prompt decision after he was asked whether the government will designate the torrential rain as a severe disaster eligible for state subsidies for reconstruction.
