Japan and other countries are scrambling to evacuate their citizens from Sudan as a three-day truce between warring factions has expired.

Residents of the capital Khartoum have been trapped in their homes as foreign civilians are trying to escape.

Two Japan Self-Defense Force transport planes left nearby Djibouti on Monday. They are expected to carry Japanese nationals out of Sudan. About 60 Japanese are currently in the country.

Government sources say they were expected to travel from Khartoum to another location by land for the planned airlift. Sources say two more SDF planes left Japan for Djibouti on Monday.

Germany says it has evacuated 311 people. France says it has transported 388 people to Djibouti, including two Japanese.

One evacuation route is through the city of Port Sudan, about 700 kilometers northeast of the capital. The city has an airport.

Clashes between Sudanese troops and the Rapid Support Forces militia continued in Khartoum during the ceasefire.

Battles were reported near the presidential palace and international airport. Sudanese civilians sheltering from the violence are dealing with power outages and struggling to get basic necessities.

The World Health Organization says more than 420 people have been killed since fighting began just over a week ago.