This is the trail of destruction left by tropical storm Talas.
With the number of dead and missing now exceeding 100, Japanese media is describing it as the worst storm to strike the nation in 20 years.
Talas began as a typhoon, but made landfall on Saturday as a tropical storm - with devastating effect.
It lingered for days over the same region, dumping record rain on central and western Japan.
Some places saw half their usual annual rainfall in just 48 hours.
The storm triggered hundreds of landslides, destroying roads and isolating entire communities.
Nine prefectures were affected - many still without power or access to functioning phone lines.
The damage comes as Japan is still recovering from March's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Simon Hanna, Reuters.
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