Two dead as heavy rains cause flooding and mudslides in south-west Japan

People wade through a street due to a heavy rain in Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, southern Japan (Kyodo News via AP)

Two people are dead and at least six others missing after torrential rain triggered floods and mudslides in southwestern Japan.

Rains falling on the regions of Kyushu and Chugoku since the weekend caused flooding along a number of rivers as well as mudslides, closing roads, disrupting trains and cutting the water supply in some areas.