Heavy rain forecast until Wednesday

Japanese weather officials are forecasting heavy rainfall in central to eastern Japan and the Okinawa-Amami region until Wednesday. Bullet train services have been temporarily suspended in some areas.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said warm humid air is flowing toward a front accompanied by a low pressure system off the southern coast of western to eastern Japan. The agency is warning of landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, swollen rivers, lightning, gusts of winds, tornadoes and hail.

It is also calling on people to take precautionary measures and move into sturdy buildings if there are any signs of thunderclouds approaching.