Some 800,000 residents of three cities in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan were instructed Wednesday to evacuate, as torrential rain raised the risk of floods and mudslides.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says rain is intensifying in the southwestern part of the country to a degree that may require the issuing of emergency warnings.

Agency forecaster Ryuta Kurora said at an emergency news conference that rain is expected to intensify between Wednesday and Thursday, raising the threat of disasters.

Kurora said the agency may issue emergency warnings if downpours continue for several hours in the same locations. He urged people to be cautious of mudslides, flooding in low-lying areas and rivers overflowing.

Kurora urged residents to act with the awareness that they must protect their own lives.

He said people should confirm whether rain is intensifying in surrounding areas, and evacuate without waiting for emergency warnings.

He said they should keep up with the latest warnings and weather information from local observatories, follow municipal evacuation advisories, and act promptly to protect their own lives and the lives of their loved ones.

NHK