Highest heavy rain warning issued in Fukui, central Japan, mudslides reported

TOKYO - Japan's weather agency issued Sunday a special heavy rain warning for some areas in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, and around 400,000 people have been urged to take emergency safety measures amid reports of mudslides and vehicles stranded on flooded roads.

The Level 5 warning, the highest for heavy rain, was issued for the cities of Fukui, Ono and Katsuyama, indicating that a disaster has likely occurred or is imminent. The Japan Meteorological Agency later lowered it to Level 4, but it still means residents should evacuate from affected areas.