Japan: More than 80 missing after landslides hit seaside city of Atami

Monday, July 5, 2021

Central Japan experienced a series of landslides hit the sea side city of Atami. The rescuers in Japan searched that more than 80 people believed to be missing two days after landslides tore through the seaside city of Atami, destroying houses and burying roads under mud and rock.

The official death toll from the landslides that hit early on Saturday is four, according to Atami city spokesperson Hiroki Onuma, while the number of missing had come down from 113 earlier.

Two people were found alive and unharmed on Monday.Atami, with a population of 36,000, is 90 km (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, set on a steep slope leading down to a bay. It is famous for a hot springs resort.

The landslides are a reminder of the natural disasters – including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunami – that haunt Japan, where the capital Tokyo is to host the summer Olympics beginning this month. By Monday, the number of rescuers at the disaster site had risen to 1,500, officials said.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said police, firefighters and members of the military were doing all they could to help with the search.

This huge landslide were triggered by torrential downpours – with some areas receiving more rain in 24 hours than they would usually get for the whole of July. About 130 buildings were affected in Atami.

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