Tropical Storm Mawar intensifies rains for Japan, threatens floods and mudslides in south and west
Heavy rains intensified by Tropical Storm Mawar is falling on Japan’s main archipelago Friday and threatening floods and mudslides in south and western regions NAHA, Japan -- Heavy rains intensified by Tropical Storm Mawar fell on Japan’s main archipelago Friday, halting trains and transit and threatening floods and mudslides in south and western regions. Warnings were issued in parts of western and central Japan, with up to 35 centimeters (1.1 feet) of rain forecast over the 24 hours through Saturday morning. Residents in vulnerable areas, including those in Wakayama, Kochi in the west and Nagano in central Japan, were warned of the potential for flooding and mudslides and advised to go to evacuation centers if possible. Television footage showed swollen rivers in residential area in the Wakayama city, including one where brown water rose as high as the bottom of a bridge over it. In Tokyo, the few pedestrians on the rainy streets clutched umbrellas as winds blew tree branches around...