Japan urges 100,000 to evacuate flood area

Japan on Friday issued an evacuation advisory for more than 100,000 people in the central region of Niigata, as heavy rains triggered floods in the mountainous area, officials said. Sanjo City in Niigata, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Tokyo, advised residents to go to flood evacuation centres as accumulated rain had topped half a metre (20 inches) at several points since Wednesday. "There are no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, but we urge our citizens to evacuate to the designated shelters as soon as possible and stay on alert," said Ayaka Hoshi, a Sanjo City spokeswoman.