Typhoon Talas leaves 29 dead, 51 missing in Japan

From Junko Ogura and Yoko Wakatsuki, CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Talas moves through western Japan on Saturday
Record rainfall triggers landslides and flooding
"This is the worst in my memory," an official says

Tokyo (CNN) -- The death toll from Typhoon Talas, which swept across western Japan, has risen to 29, local authorities said Monday.

Another 56 people are missing, according to a tally of casualties compiled from various prefectural police.

The typhoon unleashed record rainfall that triggered landslides and flooding.

"I have been working for the prefectural office over 40 years, but this is the worst in my memory," said Tsutomu Furukawa of the Wakayama Prefecture. Wakayama is one of three prefectures on the mountainous Kii Peninsula, where damage from Typhoon Talas was concentrated as the storm swept across the area on Saturday.

In the town of Nachi Katsuura in Wakayama, a river flooded into a residential area and mudslides swallowed several homes, officials said.

More than 16,000 residents were ordered to evacuate from the Kii Peninsula, and another nearly 30,000 residents were encouraged to evacuate voluntarily.

According to Japan's meteorological agency, Talas brought record rain in the three prefectures over three days. The Japanese government set up a emergency task force for search-and-rescue operations, and to begin reconstruction of damaged communities.