In pictures: Japan searches for dozens missing in mudslide

Photos

Login / Sign Up

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Gold / Forex

Photos News

In pictures: Japan searches for dozens missing in mudslide

Look: Rescue workers dug through sludge and debris looking for the missing people

Published: July 05, 2021 19:07 AP and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

1 of 14

Copy of 254768-01-02-1625496565147 — Rescue workers dug through sludge and debris Monday looking for dozens of people who may be trapped after a torrent of mud, trees and rocks ripped with a roar through the Japanese seaside resort town of Atami, in Shizuoka Prefecture, killing at least four people. Image Credit: AFP

2 of 14

Copy of Japan_Mudslide_60018.jpg-51017-1625496573081 — Reuse workers search a mudslide area following heavy rains at Izusan district in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo. Image Credit: AP

3 of 14

Copy of 254130-01-02-1625496557134 — Eighty people were still unaccounted for two days after the landslide, according to Shizuoka prefectural disaster management official Takamichi Sugiyama. Image Credit: AFP

4 of 14

Copy of 2021-07-05T105228Z_346566408_RC2AEO9YQXFH_RTRMADP_3_JAPAN-RAINFALL-1625496567737 — Officials planned to release their names, hoping that perhaps some were away when the disaster struck, since many of the apartments and houses in Atami are second homes or vacation rentals. Image Credit: via REUTERS

5 of 14

Copy of Japan_Mudslide_74382.jpg-57446-1625496584633 — Initially, 147 people were unreachable, but that number was revised downward after officials confirmed some had safely evacuated or were simply not at home. Image Credit: AP

6 of 14

Copy of 254516-01-02-1625496575340 — In addition to the four people found dead, officials said 25 people have been rescued, including three who were injured. Image Credit: AFP

7 of 14

Copy of 254475-01-02-1625496559141 — The disaster is an added trial as authorities prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, due to start in less than three weeks, while Japan is still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, with cases steadily climbing in the capital and experts suggesting a need for another state of emergency. Image Credit: AFP

8 of 14

Copy of 249449-01-02-1625496547853 — Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters that rescue workers are doing their utmost "to rescue those who may be buried under the mud and waiting for help as soon as possible." Image Credit: AFP

9 of 14

Copy of 253472-01-02-1625496553998 — Three coast guard ships, and six military drones were backing up hundreds of troops, firefighters and others toiling in the rain and fog. Image Credit: AFP

10 of 14

Copy of APTOPIX_Japan_Mudslide_75170.jpg-dfd12-1625496588473 — The landslide occurred Saturday mid-morning after days of heavy rain in Atami, which like many seaside Japanese towns is built into a steep hillside. Image Credit: AP

11 of 14

Copy of 250348-01-02-1625496550962 — The landslide tore through the Izusan neighbourhood, known for its hot springs, a shrine and shopping streets. The town has a registered population of 36,800 and is about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Image Credit: AFP

12 of 14

Copy of Japan_Mudslide_40473.jpg-057fe-1625496581050 — Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu, who inspected the area Monday where the mudslide was believed to have started, said rain soaked into the mountainside apparently weakening the ground under a massive pile of soil at a construction site that then slid down the slope. The prefecture is investigating. Image Credit: AP

13 of 14

Copy of 254762-01-02-1625496590684 — Witnesses described a giant roar as a small stream turned into a torrent, and bystanders were heard gasping in horror on cellphone videos taken as it happened. Image Credit: AFP

14 of 14

Copy of Japan_Mudslide_38288.jpg-eb1ad-1625496578785 — Early July, near the end of Japan's rainy season, is often a time of deadly flooding and mudslides, and many experts say the rains are worsening due to climate change. With other parts of the country expecting heavy downpours, authorities were urging people near hillsides in areas at risk to use caution. Image Credit: AP

Latest In

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.