Japan PM cancels visit to disaster-hit region

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TOKYO, July 26 (AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso cancelled Sunday his visit to the disaster-hit western Yamaguchi prefecture, where 14 people died in landslides, as torrential rain continued to pound the area.
"Heavy rain is still falling in Yamaguchi and is forecast to continue. It is feared more disasters could occur," Aso told reporters before he was to take off at Tokyo's Haneda airport.
"I have decided to cancel the inspection there today," he said.
Aso had planned a helicopter inspection of disaster-hit Hofu city in Yamaguchi prefecture, where a series of landslides and floods due to torrential rain killed 14 people early in the week.
Further heavy rains have hit the western Chugoku region, including Yamaguchi prefecture, and southern main island of Kyushu, killing at least six more people with two others missing since Friday.