Tokyo, Shawwal 13, 1438, Jul 7, 2017, SPA -- Seven people have died in severe flooding in south-western Japan, local media reported on Friday, with rescuers still searching for at least 14 others reported missing. In the worst hit provinces of Fukuoka and Oita, hundreds of people were waiting to be rescued while 144,000 people were unable to return to their homes, as dpa reported. Record rainfall on Japan's southwestern-most island Kyushu has caused scenes of devastation, with television footage showing images of houses with their roofs caved in, and cars and uprooted trees carried away by the floodwaters. The official announcement of the engagement of Princess Mako, planned for Saturday, has been postponed. --SPA 11:09 LOCAL TIME 08:09 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w441349