Japan orders mass evacuation in Ishikawa over flooding threat

Tens of thousands of people in four 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 12,000 in Suzu have been told to seek shelter in Ishikawa prefecture, Honshu island.

Another 16,000 residents in the Niigata and Yamagata prefectures north of Ishikawa were also told to evacuate, the AFP news agency said.

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