Tokyo, July 21: Mudslides caused by heavy rain in western Japan on Tuesday left five people dead and eight missing, including elderly residents of a nursing home, Japanese media reported.
Soldiers were sent to help evacuate around 90 residents of the nursing home in Hofu City, about 770 km (480 miles) west of Tokyo.
Television footage showed orange-suited rescuers airlifting people by helicopter, and others were shown lying on blankets outside awaiting evacuation.
Fast-flowing rivers of mud buried cars, and flattened and flooded houses. About 30 people were stranded in two tiny, isolated villages, Kyodo news agency reported.
—Agencies