Landslide lake threatens residents in west Japan

Japan's land ministry says a lake created by a landslide that blocked a river is probably overflowing in the western city of Tanabe as a result of recent record rainfalls. It is calling on residents downstream to stay on the alert.

The ministry says the water level of the lake rose to the top of its mud dam at 8 AM on Tuesday and that it apparently began overflowing 30 minutes later.

It also says images taken by a surveillance camera near the lake have not shown any significant changes in the situation but that the possibility of mudslides and other disasters is rising.

A ministry official says that all residents in dangerous areas need to evacuate.