So far nearly 200 dead in Japan's record rain

NHK -- Jul 14

Authorities say the death toll from the record rainfall that pounded western Japan has climbed to 193. Another 47 people are still missing. Authorities say 5 people are without vital signs.

Eighty-five of the deaths were in Hiroshima Prefecture and 59 in Okayama Prefecture.

As of 5 PM on Friday, about 5,800 people in 16 prefectures were staying at evacuation shelters provided by local authorities.

The health ministry says that as of midday, more than 205,000 households were still without running water.

The disaster also damaged communication facilities. Telecom service operator NTT West says 8,100 landlines and Internet connections are cut off. The company says it will take about one month to get services fully back online.

Mobile phones communications also remain disrupted in many parts of western Japan.

Operators of supermarkets and convenience stores say some of their flooded stores remain closed.

Jul 14 (Kyodo) - 西日本豪雨で警察庁は12日、被災地での死者が14府県200人に上ったと発表した。共同通信のまとめでは、広島、岡山両県を中心に70人が安否不明で、約7千人がなお避難を余儀なくされている。