Death toll rises to 56 as rain damage widens in southwest Japan

The death toll from torrential rain in southwestern Japan rose to 56 on Tuesday, as disaster-affected areas widened to the northern Kyushu region, with tens of thousands of defense troops and other rescue workers mobilized to search for those missing and help people evacuate.The Defense Ministry said it will double to 20,000 the number of Self-Defense Forces members to be deployed in Kumamoto Prefecture and other areas hit hard by the downpour.While at least 12 people remain unaccounted for since the rain first pounded the prefecture over the weekend, causing flooding and mudslides, about 1…READ FULL ARTICLE