Nine dead bodies discovered as typhoon Lionrock floods nursing home in northern Japan

Nine people have died in Japan when a care home for the elderly was flooded by heavy rains brought by Typhoon Lionrock.

At least two other individuals are reported dead.

Lionrock has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it goes over Russia.

One emergency official told the AFP agency that the nine died after mud swamped the care facility. The casualties have not been identified yet.

The building is home to elderly individuals suffering from dementia, NHK reported.

Typhoon Lionrock brought strong winds and heavy rains. It was the first to hit at Tohoku, which covers the northeastern part of Honshu island since records started in 1951.

More than 400,000 individuals to evacuate because of fears of landslides and coastal flood, Kyodo has been guided by authorities in the region reported.

Rail services and flights have been cancelled and local manufacturers compelled to suspend operations.

On the island of Hokkaido, further north, rivers burst their banks.

One of the worst hit regions, Iwate, is still recovering from tsunami and the disastrous quake in March 2011.