Weather forecasts warned of significant flooding due to heavy rain, forcing up to 30,000 residents of two cities in central Japan to flee.

Approximately 18,000 residents of Wajima and an additional 12,000 residents of Suzu have been advised to take refuge in the Honshu island prefecture of Ishikawa.

An image from the Kyodo News website shows a whole street in Wajima submerged in water.

For portions of the prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency (Jma) has issued a heavy rain emergency, the highest alert level.

According to government sources cited by Japan's national broadcaster NHK, 12 rivers in the prefecture had overflowed.

Following a fatal magnitude 7.5 earthquake on New Year's Day, the area is still recuperating.