Local authorities confirmed that at least 18 people had died and 14 were missing in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures, with images of the worst affected areas showing houses completely destroyed by the force of the flood waters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning on Saturday for unprecedented rains, calling Kyushu residents to take “utmost caution.” At least 270,000 people were instructed to evacuate in four prefectures across the island.
The Kuma village in Kumamoto saw a record 83.5 miles of rain in one hour on Saturday morning, according to the meteorological agency, while the city of Kanoya in Kagoshima was 109.5 mm in one hour on Monday, the highest in the history.
Kumamato prefecture authorities said 16 other people were currently in cardiopulmonary arrest and feared death, after a nursing home in Kuma Village was completely flooded when the nearby Kuma River erupted on its banks on Saturday.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces and security authorities continue search and rescue operations in Kumamato and Kagoshima prefectures. However, efforts have been complicated by conditions on the ground, with flooding and landslides cutting off contact with hundreds of communities in the highly mountainous region.
At a press conference on Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said more than 800 people have so far been rescued by the emergency services.
According to the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, thousands of homes have been isolated and 20,000 firefighters are currently on the ground trying to communicate with them. Authorities were using 28 helicopters, four planes, and two search boats to survey the area on Monday.
Authorities told CNN that they are still gathering information on the number of deaths and hope to update their figures in the coming days.
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