2 Dead, 35 Injured after Heavy Rain in Japan

Two people died and at least 35 people were wounded after heavy rain pounded wide areas of Japan, local authorities reported on Saturday, with landslides and river flooding occurring in many parts in the country's east.

Thunderstorms were observed from Friday through Saturday morning in the western and central regions, with 23 locations in eight prefectures seeing record levels of precipitation over a 24-hour period, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The extreme weather conditions were caused by warm, moist air from Typhoon Mawar and a rain front near Japan's main island of Honshu.

Rising river levels prompted some local governments, such as Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture, to issue a severe flood warning to residents, urging them to immediately move to safer land.

Authorities said at least five people were missing, while 232 homes were totally or partially destroyed.

At least two million people have been advised to evacuate temporarily in Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, and Mie prefectures.