[Video] A Mudslide Sweeps Across the Road in an Instant... Landslide Hits a Japanese City, Rescue Efforts in Full Force

Firefighters and Self-Defense Forces Deployed for Rescue Operations
2 of Over 20 Missing Found Dead

Residential area near Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where a landslide occurred on the 3rd (local time) / Photo by Internet Community

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A massive landslide occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, where record-breaking heavy rain poured down, leaving dozens missing. On the morning of the 4th (local time), Japanese authorities deployed fire rescue teams and the Ground Self-Defense Force to intensify rescue operations.

According to Japanese local media such as 'Kyodo News,' rescue operations began on this day in the residential area near Azusan in Atami City, a coastal city in Shizuoka Prefecture.

So far, about 20 people have been reported missing, with two found dead. Japanese authorities are currently conducting rescue operations involving police, fire departments, and the Self-Defense Forces, so the death toll may rise.

The landslide occurred around 10:30 a.m. on the previous day (the 3rd). According to Japan's NHK broadcast, Azusan experienced a landslide caused by heavy rain, which covered nearby houses and roads.

In Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, a landslide caused by record-breaking heavy rain has buried several houses, and the roads are covered with mud and various debris. / Photo by Yonhap News

In Japan, over the past 48 hours, Shizuoka Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture have been hit by a deluge of 400 to 500 mm of rain. This is about twice the average monthly rainfall (242.5 mm). As the water volume suddenly increased and the ground weakened, the earth collapsed and poured into residential areas.

Shocking scenes of the earth sweeping across roads and houses were shared among Japanese netizens via social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter and Facebook. A video capturing the situation shows a mudslide mixed with water and house debris rapidly flowing hundreds of meters down a steep road. Houses directly hit by the mudslide collapsed completely.

There has been criticism that local governments responded complacently. Atami City had issued a level 3 warning out of 5 stages for heavy rain, 'Evacuation Preparation and Evacuation Start for the Elderly,' but only upgraded to level 5, 'Emergency Safety Assurance,' after the landslide occurred.

Regarding this, Heita Kawakatsu, Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, said at a press conference with local media on the 3rd, "Various factors overlapped, such as prolonged heavy rain and weak ground," adding, "As a result, it cannot be said that there was no fault at all."

Meanwhile, the Japanese government held a meeting of related ministers on the same day to discuss measures against the heavy rain damage and established a crisis management center office at the Prime Minister's Office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.