Japan PM visits flood-hit town, search on for missing

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday visited a disaster-struck city north of Tokyo in the aftermath of massive flooding that killed at least three people, as rescuers raced against time to find more than a dozen still missing.

Parts of Joso, a community of 65,000 residents, were washed away Thursday when a levee on the Kinugawa river gave way, flooding an area that reportedly spans 32 square kilometres (12 square miles) after the worst rains in decades. Dramatic aerial footage showed whole houses being swept away by raging torrents in scenes eerily reminiscent of the devastating tsunami that crushed Japan’s northeast coast four years ago.

“I felt <g data-gr-id="12">more dead</g> than alive,” said a man who was rescued today morning after days trapped inside his home. 

“I lived by drinking tea as there was no food. I’m so glad that they came to rescue me,” he told public broadcaster NHK.