At least 59 people are dead and 16 are missing as heavy rain has hammered Japan, resulting in landslides and devastating floods, Japanese authorities said.

The death toll expected to rise and more than 120 landslides have been reported.

The rains began Saturday on the southwestern island of Kyushu, bursting river banks and causing hillsides.

Officials are warning of an unprecedented level of rain for areas of central Japan, which experienced torrential rains on Wednesday.

Some 80,000 rescue workers have been deployed and another 10,000 are expected in the rescue efforts.