Tokyo, Jul 10 (IANS): Japan's weather agency issued a heavy rain warning for parts of the country's southwestern region on Saturday, prompting local authorities to direct some 245,000 residents to take immediate action to stay safe as per the highest level 5 alert.

On Saturday morning, the weather agency issued the highest-level alert on the five-level disaster warning scale, covering cities of Izumi, Isa, and Satsumasendai, and the towns of Satsuma and Yusui in Kagoshima prefecture, also affecting Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto prefecture and Ebino in Miyazaki prefecture, involving around 245,000 residents, reports Xinhua news agency.

The level 5 alert is designed for those who cannot evacuate in the face of imminent danger.

The local officials instructed residents who have difficulty taking shelter safely to move to rooftops and such places, staying away from rivers and hills.

There are no reports of injuries or casualties yet.

Residents ought to be highly cautious toward mudslides and river overflow especially for those in Kagoshima, an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency said at a press conference.

A week ago, torrential rain triggered a large mudslide in the city of Atami, resulting in nine deaths and 20 missing persons.

About 10 families were stranded due to collapsed roads, and around 100 evacuation centres were set up in Kagoshima Prefecture.

According to the weather agency, rainfall in Satsuma, Kagoshima, was 96.5 mm per hour, setting an hourly rainfall record for the town, and rainfall in Ebino, Miyazaki, was 83.5 mm per hour.