DUSHANBE, 25.07.2017. /NIAT “Khovar”/. Torrential rain over the weekend has left at least 485 houses flooded in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, with more than 20,000 local residents still under evacuation orders, Kyodo agency reports citing the prefectural government.

The Japan Meteorological Agency predicted intermittent heavy rain and thunder in the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan and Hokuriku area on the Sea of Japan coast through Tuesday due to a stalled rain front.

From Saturday to Sunday, over 300 millimeters of rain had been observed at multiple locations including Akita and Yokote cities.

In Daisen, one of the hardest-hit areas, an evacuation order for about 21,000 people of some 8,200 households has not been lifted. Akita Gov. Norihisa Satake said he is planning to ask for increased state financial support for recovery from the disaster.

Flooded rivers triggered a series of mudslides and a number of houses were stranded due to severed road access.

Two nursery schools in Akita and Daisen cities were closed Monday because of flooding, and water supply was cut off in five cities including Yurihonjo and Yokote due to damage to pipes.