At least one person died and seven others are missing after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in Japan

At least one person has been killed and seven others are missing after heavy rains in Japan triggered flooding and landslides.

More than a dozen rivers have burst their banks in Japan after unprecedented rains hit many parts of the country Saturday morning, Agence France-Presse reported.

The Ishikawa Prefecture government said in a statement that one person was killed, three were missing and two were seriously injured in Ishikawa.

In addition, 60 workers were caught in a mudslide while carrying out repair work in heavy rain near the Nakatani tunnel in Mencho, Wajima City, and at least four workers were missing.

Many buildings were flooded, landslides also blocked roads, and about 6,000 homes lost power and water.

The governments of Lundao City, Zhuzhou City and Neng Teng town ordered about 44,700 residents to evacuate the affected areas.

The fire and disaster management agency said 16,700 residents of Niigata and Yamagata prefectures north of Ishikawa were also ordered to evacuate. Japan's Meteorological Agency also issued its highest warning for Ishikawa Prefecture.

On Saturday morning, the island recorded more than 120 millimetres of rain per hour, the most since observations began in 1929.

Japanese Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed the government to "make saving people's lives the top priority and do our best to manage the disaster."

A massive earthquake on the Noto Peninsula earlier this year killed at least 236 people, and the community has yet to complete repairs.