At least one person was killed and several others missing after torrential rains caused flooding in a northern Japan coastal region still recovering from a deadly earthquake that struck at the start of this year.

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. About 18,000 people in the city of Wajima and another 12,

Heavy rain lashed central Japan on Sunday, with floods and landslides leaving one dead and at least six missing in an area already devastated by a major earthquake earlier this year.Landslides blocked roads and widespread flooding affected homes -- including eight temporary housing complexes in Wajima and Suzu where victims of the magnitude-7.