Clean-up efforts and rescue missions were continuing on Wednesday in the Kuchitaminami area of Hiroshima where heavy rainfall caused a series of destructive landslides.

According to Japanese state television the death toll natiowide from the rain that hit western Japan last week has risen to 162 people while 56 people are still missing.

Nobuaki Hyuga, a 58 year-old resident of Kuchitaminami, said that although he still has electricity and water at his home above the landside, he is isolated at home until the roads are fixed.

Landslides flushed away houses and cars and deposited silt and debris around the area.

Hyuga said he'd never seen anything like this before and never thought disasters could hit so close to home.

Tatsumi Kanamori, a 67 year-old resident, was doing his part by helping clear out the dirt from the edges of the road, where heavy machinery can't reach.

Meanwhile a coordinated volunteer effort is place.

In other areas rescue efforts are ongoing with dozens still missing and communities stranded without power and water.