Japan Torrential Rain: Thousands remain in evacuation sites awaiting aid

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02:35

The death toll from strong storms in Japan is now more than two hundred. Dozens more remain missing. Thousands are in evacuation centers but help is starting to arrive. CGTN's Barnaby Lo has more on the aftermath of Japan's worst weather disaster in three decades.

After days of heavy downpour, the weather has cleared in Western Japan. Residents are taking the opportunity to go back to their homes, but only to empty them of trash and debris.

AKIKO MASAKI SURVIVORS' DAUGHTER "I don't think they can come here in a few months, maybe by winter, hopefully."

Akiko Masaki's parents' home may appear to be well above the river but it wasn't spared from massive flooding that inundated their entire community. Akiko went over to her parents as quickly as she could, and has since been taking care of all their needs with help from family and friends.

AKIKO MASAKI SURVIVORS' DAUGHTER "We bring them, everyday or many friends of them, or my friends, come here everyday to bring something to eat, something to drink."

BARNABY LO KURASHIKI, JAPAN "Now usually when a disaster hits Japan, it's the convenience stores that are the first go-to places of survivors for their necessities, but this time around even the convenience stores in this area have been completely destroyed."

Food, water, and other necessities had been in short supply in the early days of the flood's aftermath. But aid is now slowly making their way especially to where thousands of evacuees remain.

YUICHI YAMADA JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY "A couple of days ago, they managed to restore the electricity and water supply here. There's air-conditioning now but until then, they had to endure the heat."

That's not to say, however, that evacuees are completely safe from health risks, especially since they may not be able to return home soon.

YUICHI YAMADA JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY "The hot weather can still cause heat stroke. I'd also like to advise elderly people to move about as often as they can to avoid economy class syndrome, which could be fatal."

If there is anything that worries survivors here though, it hasn't been evident. The overwhelming sentiment is to restore normalcy in their lives as soon as they can. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Kurashiki City, Japan.