Flooding has killed at least eight people and forced 2 million others to flee their homes Saturday as heavy rain pounded large areas in southwestern Japan.

At least 51 people have been injured and an additional 25 people are missing, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of Japan.

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged. In all, eight prefectures have been affected, including Kyoto and Hiroshima.

The Japan Meteorological Agency upgraded its alert system to the highest level in large areas of western Japan, while lifting the warning in other regions.

Heavy rain was forecast to continue through Sunday in the west and the east, agency official Minako Sakurai told reporters.

At least 4 million people have been advised to evacuate surrounding areas. Government officials are warning people in affected areas they are at risk for landslides, flooding, wind gusts and other extreme weather conditions.