Japanese princess s engagement announcement delayed over rain, floods

Tokyo July 7 (IANS) The official announcement of the engagement of Japanese Emperor Akihito s eldest granddaughter Princess Mako was postponed due to torrential rains that have killed seven people while 14 were reported missing.The announcement. scheduled for Saturday. has been pushed to an unconfirmed date on account of the rain which devastated the island of Kyushu officials of the Imperial Household Agency told public broadcaster NHK on Friday.Japan s national media had reported Mako s engagement in May; however the formal announcement would have taken place on Saturday when the Princess was set to hold a press conference along with her fiance 25-year-old legal assistant Kei Komuro.Mako s upcoming marriage will further shrink Japan s imperial family as women who marry out of royalty lose their royal status Efe news reported.Torrential rains have caused floods and landslides and led to the evacuation of over 500 000 people in the Fukuoka and Oita prefectures.According to the Japan Meteorological Agency it is one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country.Most of Kyushu continues to be on high alert as the rains are expected to continue through Friday although with less intensity. --IANSksk/bg