Japan orders mass evacuation over flooding threat

Up to 30,000 people in two cities in central Japan have been ordered to evacuate after weather forecasters warned of major flooding caused by heavy rain, BBC reports.

About 18,000 people in the city of Wajima and another 12,000 in Suzu have been told to seek shelter in Ishikawa prefecture, Honshu island.

The Kyodo News website has published a picture showing an entire street flooded in Wajima.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (Jma) has issued a heavy rain emergency - the highest alert level - for parts of the prefecture.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK quoted government officials as saying 12 rivers in the prefecture had breached their banks.

The region is still recovering after a deadly magnitude 7.5 earthquake on New Year's Day.