Japan is ordering many people to evacuate Ishikawa due to the threat of flooding

About 30,000 people in two cities in central Japan were ordered to evacuate after forecasters warned of severe flooding caused by heavy rain.

About 18,000 people in the city of Wajima and another 12,000 in Suzu were told to seek shelter in Ishikawa prefecture, on the island of Honshu.

The Kyodo News website published a photo showing the entire street in Wajima flooded.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (Jma) has issued a heavy rain emergency – the highest warning level – for parts of the region.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK quoted government officials as saying that 12 rivers in the region had breached their banks.

The region is still recovering from a devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake on New Year’s Day.