Torrential downpours that hit Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Wednesday evening have kept people busy on Thursday morning cleaning up their flooded homes.

Hourly rainfall is believed to have exceeded 100 millimeters in the prefecture, prompting the Meteorological Agency to issue alerts to people. A total of 13 houses were flooded in five cities including Kawagoe and Higashimatsuyama.

On Thursday morning, at a dental clinic in Kawagoe, staff were busy disinfecting the floor, and drying wet mats. They said the clinic had been flooded ankle-deep at one time, but water subsided in about one hour. The clinic was closed all day on Thursday to check electric cables and other equipment.

The head of the clinic said it was the first time its building was flooded since it opened 10 years ago. The dentist said the water was 50 centimeters deep outside the clinic and was flowing like a river.

Kawagoe City officials say that they have confirmed flood damage at six houses, and are receiving more damage reports.