People wade through a flooded road after heavy rain in Kurume, western Japan, on Saturday. AP

One woman was dead and two other people were missing on Saturday as more than a million people were urged to seek shelter as torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in western Japan.

Torrential rain touched off a landslide and engulfed two houses in Nagasaki prefecture in western Japan.

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With some parts of the country experiencing record levels of rainfall, Japan has broadened its highest level of risk alerts to cover more than 1 million people. One area recorded 408 mm (15.7 inches) of rain in the 72 hours to Saturday morning.

Firefighters carry stranded residents on boat through a flooded road in Kurume, Japan, on Saturday. AP

The rain triggered a mudslide Friday in the city of Unzen in Nagasaki prefecture, burying four people. One of those buried was killed and another was seriously injured. Rescue workers are searching for the two others.

Another mudslide in Hiroshima late Friday left one person seriously injured.

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan and elsewhere, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

Rescuers work at a mudslide site following heavy rain in Obama, Unzen city, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Saturday. AP

"Unprecedented levels of heavy rain have been observed," Yushi Adachi, a meteorological agency official, told reporters in Tokyo.

"It's highly likely that some kind of disaster has already occurred," Adachi said.

"The maximum alert is needed even in areas where risks of landslides and flooding are usually not so high."

A general view shows a flooded street during heavy rain in Kurume, Japan Saturday. Reuters

Local authorities have issued the highest-level disaster alert for parts of Kyushu and Hiroshima, affecting about 1.4 million people, though evacuation is not compulsory.

"Shinknsen” super-express trains connecting the southern city of Hakata and Osaka in the west have temporarily suspended, according to West Japan Railway Co.