TOKYO. July 15. KAZINFORM About 240,000 people were ordered to evacuate from disaster-hit areas in southwestern Japan on Saturday, as torrential rains continued to hammer the region for the third consecutive day,  Kyodo news agency reported.

The heaviest rainfall on record, which began pounding Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Thursday, caused flooding and mudslides that have already claimed 22 lives. Police and local authorities say at least eight more people are still missing.

"The heavy rain drenched northern parts of the Kyushu region, halting bullet-train services, forcing the closure of expressways and causing power blackouts," Kyodo said.

The evacuation orders affect a total of 85,000 households in Kyushu's prefectures of Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto and Oita.

The residents have been told to go to designated shelters such as schools and other public facilities.

Meanwhile, Japan's Meteorological Agency warned of more landslides and floods to come.

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