Japan's weather officials have issued the highest emergency warning for Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Kumamoto prefectures on Saturday due to what they warned was "the most torrential downpour in decades," calling people in those areas to do whatever they can to stay safe, broadcaster NHK reported.

A week ago heavy rains lashed the resort city of Atami, triggering landslides that have killed at least nine people and left 20 missing.