Historic Floods in Japan Force More Than 100,000 People From Their Homes

Heavy flooding in Japan caused by torrential rain tore houses from their foundations, uprooted trees, and drove more than 100,000 people from their homes on Friday.

The rain came as a result of tropical storm Etau, which battered Japan's main island of Honshu and caused 20 inches of rain in some areas. The rainfall levels were twice September's average. In other areas north of Tokyo, rivers burst through levees and overflowed into neighborhoods.

Many Japanese were forced onto their roofs to wait for rescue by helicopters, which hovered over swirling waters. At least seven people were reported missing and 17 injured by nightfall.

New pictures emerge of the worsening flood situation in eastern Japan — SKY NEWS WEATHER (@SkyWeatherAUS)September 10, 2015

A 63-year-old woman was missing in a landslide, while a man in his 70s, living in a town 35 miles north of Tokyo, was feared trapped when water engulfed his home, NHK national television said.

"We heard a huge sound like a thunderclap, and then the hillside came down," a man told NHK, referring to the landslide that swept away his neighbor.

Television broadcast dramatic footage of helicopters flying people to safety, including an elderly couple clutching a pair of struggling dogs as the flood tore away pieces of their home.

A further 800,000 people were at one point advised to evacuate after officials issued predawn warnings of "once in a half-century rains" to 5 million people in areas east and north of Tokyo.

After a 2011 tsunami killed nearly 20,000 people in Japan, the government received intense criticism for its perceived lack of action, and now appear to be taking a more proactive approach to disaster response.

The government set up an emergency center, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of ministers that the "unprecedented" rain had created an emergency. "The government will work as one to prioritize the safety of the people and do our best to prevent any further disaster," Abe told reporters.

Up to 12 military helicopters took part in the rescue along with Japan's military, the Self Defense Force. Officials said more soldiers would eventually join in the relief effort. Emergency warnings went into place Thursday morning for nearly 5 million people near Tokyo, according to Weather.com.

New pictures emerge of the worsening flood situation in eastern Japan — SKY NEWS WEATHER (@SkyWeatherAUS)September 10, 2015

"I thought I was safe because I live on a hill, but pretty soon the water came up and everything was washed away," a barefoot man told Fuji TV after his helicopter rescue.

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