People wade through flood waters in Kurume in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan on July 8, 2020.
Japan issued fresh landslide and flood warnings Wednesday morning as torrential rain moved over the center of the country while the death toll from days of downpours in the Kyushu region rose to at least 54.
As the weather front moved north, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest level warning for Gifu and Nagano prefectures saying heavy rains in these areas are at an unprecedented level.
According to a report by AFP, a JMA official warned of the possibility of disaster arising in areas designated as high risk for landslides and flooding, adding that it's a situation where people must do their best to protect their lives.
At least 80,000 rescue workers have already been deployed devastated areas to reach stranded survivors.
Late Tuesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to double the number of troops involved in the rescue effort to 20,000.
Authorities said the rains are expected to continue through Thursday.
Japan is in the middle of its annual rainy season, which often causes deadly floods and landslides.
In 2018, more than 200 people died in massive floods in western Japan.
Experts believe climate change has intensified the risks of heavy rains, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.
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