OSAKA - At least six people were killed and 20 others went missing as torrential rain caused by a seasonal rain front hit several prefectures of the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu where thousands of people were forced to evacuate homes on Thursday, local press said. ?

According to Japan's public broadcaster Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) , heavy rain caused several landslides in Aso City and its surrounding region of Kumamoto Prefecture which saw hourly rainfall between 100 and 120 mm on Thursday morning.

At least five people were found dead and 19 others went missing in the disaster sites, the report said.

In Taketa City of Oita Prefecture, a man was found dead after he fell into a swelling river and another man went missing near rice field on Thursday when the city ordered, or advised, about 25, 000 people to evacuate their houses located near the river. ? ?

Weather authorities warned that heavy rainfall may trigger further floods and landslides in coastal areas of western Japan, parts of which may see hourly rainfall about 100 mm by Friday morning.