Landslide in Japan: Search for missing people in Atami

After the departure of an enormous mudslide in the Japanese excursion destination Atami, 20 people are still missing. Persistent rain makes rescue operations difficult.

The rescue work in Atami, almost 90 kilometers south of Tokyo, is made more difficult by persistent rainfall. So far, according to the television station NHK, the helpers have managed to save about ten people from their homes. They had been trapped in mud and fled to higher floors before the avalanche. A total of 700 police officers, self-defense forces and the fire brigade, some with heavy equipment, are on duty because the floors are soaked.

According to Japanese media reports, the coast guard is also looking for missing people around the port of the popular excursion destination Atami. Two women were found dead there yesterday. Around 80 houses were partially or completely destroyed. Almost four hundred people were asked to leave their homes because further landslides cannot be ruled out.

As much rain as usual in a month

It is the rainy season in Japan, but in some regions it had rained as much in a short period of time as it usually did in July. According to the national meteorological office, the rain front moves from the Pacific coast towards the Japanese or Eastern Sea.