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A landslide swept through the Izusan neighbourhood of Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on 3 July 2021 after torrential rainfall, killing 27 people and injuring 3.[1][2] The city received 310 millimetres (12.4 in) of rainfall in a 48-hour period, which prompted authorities to warn residents of "life threatening" conditions.[3] The landslide destroyed a number of houses and left roads covered with debris.[3][4] Search and rescue operations were launched on 3 July, with local authorities reporting that they had received about ten phone calls from people trapped in their houses.[5]
 Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga overlooks the damaged area; staining on the white building near the centre gives an impression of the height of the landslide during the incident. | |
| Date | 3 July 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:30 a.m. (JST) |
| Location | Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Cause | Heavy rainfall |
| Deaths | 27 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
Background
editAtami is a seaside city located approximately 109 kilometres (68 miles) from Tokyo, in the coastal prefecture of Shizuoka in the Chūbu region of Central Japan. Situated on the edge of the prefecture's mountain ranges, it is known for its steep valleys and hills.[6] While Atami has been a popular resort town for centuries, it saw rapid growth during the mid-20th century, with development occurring inland.
One of Japan's defining characteristics in terms of weather is its rainy season in early summer, which spans from late May to early July.[7] Prior to the landslide, there had been several days of continuous torrential rainfall in the vicinity of Atami. At the time of the incident, this rainfall was continuing to take place; approximately 790 mm (31 in) of rainfall was measured at Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, while a measurement of 550 mm (22 in) was gathered at Gotemba, Shizuoka.[5]
Investigation
editThis article needs to be updated. (June 2023) |
Investigations into the cause of the landslide are ongoing. Authorities are investigating suggestions by experts that improperly accumulated soil brought in for development purposes may have been partially responsible for the landslide.[2][8]
References
edit- ^ "Death Toll from Central Japan Mudslide Rises to 9". Jiji Press. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Improper soil accumulation suspected of leading to Japan mudslide". The Japan Times. Kyodo. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ a b Hida, Hikari; Bengali, Shashank (3 July 2021). "Landslide in Japanese Resort Town Leaves at Least 19 Missing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Japan landslide: 20 missing in Atami city". BBC News. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ a b "2 feared dead, 20 missing after large mudslide hits Atami". Japan Today. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Visit Atami | Approximately 40 minutes from Tokyo Ocean Hot Spring Resort – Atami Tourism Information Site". travel.ataminews.gr.jp. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Rainy Season (Tsuyu)". www.japan-guide.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ Tomoko, Kamata (9 July 2021). "Atami mudslides: landfill soil may have triggered the disaster". NHK WORLD-JAPAN. NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
External links
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