'Unprecedented' rainfall brings flooding to Japan

Several people are missing after thunderstorms brought extreme rainfall to parts of Japan's Fukuoka prefecture, causing severe flooding and triggering landslides.

A search and rescue operation is underway after a series of thunderstorms brought more than half a metre of rain over a 24-hour period, which the Japan Meteorological Agency has described as 'unprecedented'.

The city of Asakura was amongst the hardest hit, with floodwaters surging through the streets forcing hundreds of thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes.

BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes explains what caused the relentless thunderstorms and looks ahead to the forecast for the coming days.