Photo/Illutration A prefectural road collapses as the Kiyamagawa river overflows in Kumamoto Prefecture on July 3. (Kei Yoshida)

Heavy rain is expected to continue lashing southern Kyushu through July 5, with weather officials calling on residents to stay vigilant and be on the lookout for flooding and landslides.

The seasonal rain front has moved southward and remains stationary over the area. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts it will bring localized heavy rain with thunderstorms through the evening of July 4.

The 24-hour precipitation amounts as of 10 a.m. on July 4 was 230 millimeters in Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, and 222.5 mm in Satsumasendai in the prefecture, according to the JMA.

Up to 250 mm of rain during the 24-hour period through 6 a.m. on July 5 is forecast for Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami region.

The rain front is expected to move northward on July 5, which could bring heavy rains to northern Kyushu, the JMA said.

On July 3, localized downpours occurred mainly in Kyushu due partly to a series of linear rainbands, which cause extremely heavy rain, forming over Kumamoto Prefecture.

Several rivers overflowed their banks and landslides occurred.

In Kumamoto Prefecture, evacuation orders were also temporarily issued for around 1.02 million residents in 17 municipalities.

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