6 Pics: Japanese City Against Mudslides And Flooding

A Japanese city was flooded today when a raging river burst its banks, destroying homes and cars as desperate residents waited for help, and as thousands of people were ordered to evacuate.

People are rescued from vehicles by firefighters at an area flooded by the Kinugawa river, caused by typhoon Etau, in Joso, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan on September 10, 2015. (Reuters/Kyodo)

Residents are seen as they wait for rescue helicopters at a residential area flooded by the Kinugawa river in Japan on September 10, 2015. (Reuters/Kyodo)
A hotel building falls into the floodwaters at Nikko mountain resort in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo on September 10, 2015. (AFP Photo)
An aerial view shows a flooded area in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, on September 10, 2015. (AFP Photo)

People look at a river flowing with muddy waters in Oyama, Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo on September 10, 2015. (AFP Photo)
Local residents wait to be rescued on the roof of their home in a flooded area in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, on September 10, 2015. (AFP Photo)