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Devastation: An aerial view shows the mudslide site at a hamlet where people are still missing, in Senboku, Akita prefecture, Japan. At least eight houses are believed to have been swept away by the floods which hit the area yesterday
These were the shocking scenes of devastation in northern Japan this morning after torrential rain sparked floods and a massive mudslide killing six people.

At least eight buildings were destroyed by one mudslide in Senboku, Akita prefecture, which was triggered when about four inches of rain fell in an hour yesterday - a local record.

The Japanese Meterological Agency has issued evacuation warnings to residents and it's understood that at least 300 people have been forced out of their homes.


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Destroyed: A fallen tree trunk is seen in the foreground of this photo with the debris of a collapsed home in the background
Others have been wading through waterlogged streets in the town of Yahaba, in the Iwate prefecture as rivers over-spilled into the streets.

Dozens of soldiers and police have since been combing the area near Lake Tazwa in Semboku, looking for dead and survivors following the massive mudslide.

Pictures from the scene show the twisted wreckage of homes, tree branches and trunks buried underneath several feet of mud.

Rescue workers have been wading knee deep in the mud, using sticks to help them, in a bid to reach survivors.

So far they have found the bodies of a 93-year-old man, his 88-year-old wife and their 61-year-old son near their home.

The son's wife is still believed to be missing, police said.

They have also recovered the body of a 58-year-old in the rubble and the body of a 62-year-old man was also discovered.

It is believed that he was swept away by an overflowing river.