Huge landslide hits Japan: At least 20 people missing as deluge of debris and mud sweeps away houses and roads in town west of Tokyo following heavy rain

At least twenty people are missing and two bodies are believed to have been found after a huge landslide at a resort town in Japan swept away homes this morning following days of heavy rain, officials have confirmed.

Dozens of homes may have been buried after a torrent of mud crashed down a hillside in the Izusan district of Atami, southwest of Tokyo, at around 10am on Saturday following days of torrential rain.

Shocking video footage showed the mudslide collapsing down the hillside and obliterating buildings in its path, sending people fleeing for their lives as the dislodged hillside buried part of a road.

Two people were 'found in a state of cardio and respiratory arrest', the regional governor said, an expression often used in Japan before confirming death.

Shizuoka's governor said 'around 20' people were still missing after being swept away by the landslide, while soldiers have joined firefighters and police in a rescue operation to desperately find people who may be trapped beneath the mud.

more videos

Prince Harry lands back in USA after Princess Diana statue unveiling

Shocking scenes in Japan as huge landslide rips through busy street

Debris flies down the street as landslide sweeps through Japan

Horror moment pervert leaps on woman walking in Brooklyn

Shocking video of homeless man being attacked without intervention

Man is saved from suffocating in hole in sand at Newquay beach

Grown men openly brawl on the side of the M20 in road rage fight

Torrential rain across Japan triggers landslide in Tokyo region

Armed 'moors' insist they are not anti-government

A firefighter finds his seven-year-old daughter buried at the site

Thunderstorms on the way as unsettled July weather continues

Jasmine Hartin is filmed taking a perfect shot at watermelon

A rescue worker removes mud and debris at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture

Members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces have joined firefighters and police in a rescue operation to desperately find people who may be trapped beneath the mud

Prefectural authorities said a number of homes were destroyed and set up a task force to deal with the disaster

Residents in nearby cities in Shizuoka have been ordered to evacuate following the landslide, which has seen roads covered in mud and debris

Prefectural authorities said a number of homes were destroyed and set up a task force to deal with the disaster, including thirty members of the Self-Defenses Forces based in Gotenba. Pictured: Mud after the landslide swept down the road

In this aerial image, a mudslide destroyed houses on Saturday in Atami, Shizuoka. There are fears of increasing fatalities as a rescue operation is underway

There are around 20 people missing after mudslides triggered by torrential rain drown out houses at hot-spring resort area Izusan in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan

Members of Japan's Self-defense Forces patrol at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who put together an emergency task force to respond to the disaster, said it had been raining heavily all morning in Atami and warned that more downpours were forecast. Pictured: Scene of the landslide on Saturday

Rescue workers help a resident evacuate from the scene of the horrific mudslide, which was caused by days of heavy rain at Izusan district in Atami

A powerful mudslide carrying a deluge of black water and debris crashed into rows of houses in a town west of Tokyo following heavy rains on Saturday, leaving at least people missing, officials said

A damaged bus and debris of the houses are seen at the scene of a drastic mudslide following heavy rain at Izusan district in Atami on Saturday as a rescue operation is underway

A witness said: 'I heard a horrible sound and saw a mudslide flowing downwards as rescue workers were urging people to evacuate. So I ran to higher ground.'. Pictured: Rescue worker removes mud and debris at the scene

Soldiers have joined firefighters, construction workers and police in a rescue operation to desperately find people who may be trapped beneath the mud

'Because of the heavy rain, the ground loosened and the mudslide occurred... it picked up speed and swept away houses together with people,' Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu told reporters

Two people were found in a state of cardiac arrest and another 20 or so were missing in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Atami, a seaside resort town

Mud covers after the landslide on July 3, in Atami, Shizuoka, Japan, as at least 20 people are thought to be missing after the disaster

'There is a possibility of heavy rain due to the rain front, so we still need to be alert at the maximum level,' he said at an emergency disaster meeting.

Thirty members of the Self-Defenses Forces based in Gotenba in the prefecture were dispatched to assist in the rescue effort.

Atami saw rainfall of 313 millimetres in just 48 hours to Saturday, which is higher than the average monthly total for July of 242.5 millimetres, according to NHK.

'Because of the heavy rain, the ground loosened and the mudslide occurred... it picked up speed and swept away houses together with people,' Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu told reporters.

The disaster began at around 10.30am at a river near the city, which is around 55 miles from Tokyo and is famous as a hot spring resort.

Video footage showed the moment the huge slurry of mud and debris slide slowly down a steep road and nearly engulfed a white car, while it also toppled electricity poles, with large areas left inundated by waves of earth.

Around 2,800 homes in Atami have been left without power following the disaster, according to the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Buildings were left destroyed and covered in mud and debris after days of torrential rain caused a hillside to dislodge and saw a landslide descend on Atami

The disaster began at around 10.30am at a river near the city, which is around 55 miles from Tokyo and is famous as a hot spring resort

Mud cover the road after a horrific landslide destroyed houses in Atami, Shizuoka, leaving fears of people being trapped beneath the dirt

Thirty members of the Self-Defenses Forces based in Gotenba in the prefecture were dispatched to assist in the rescue effort. Pictured: A truck carries an excavator to the landslide site

Rescue workers remove mud and debris at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on Saturday

Downpours have been sweeping Japan during its annual rainy season, which last several weeks and often triggers warnings of floods and landslides. Pictured: Debris covers a road near Highway 135, after heavy rainfall in Izusan, Shizuoka prefecture

Videos and pictures from the scene showed a huge slurry of mud and debris sliding slowly down a steep road leaving dozens of homes and roads completely buried

Police officers patrol at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on July 3

First responders observe a landslide caused by heavy rains in Zushi, Kanagawa prefecture, west of Tokyo on Saturday, which has seen at least twenty people missing

Police officers carry a stretcher past a member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture

Shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka were temporarily stopped due to the heavy rain. Pictured: Mud and debris at the scene of the landslide in Atami in Shuzuoka Prefecture on Saturday

Buildings were left damaged after a mudslide triggered by torrential rain descended down a hillside and covered a street at hot-spring resort area Izusan in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture

A police car is seen behind a cordon ribbon near the site of a landslide on Saturday as at least 20 people remain missing

Atami saw rainfall of 313 millimetres in just 48 hours to Saturday -- higher than the average monthly total for July of 242.5 millimetres. Pictured: Houses are damaged following the landslide in Atami on Saturday morning

The landslide (wreckage pictured) was caused by Japan's annual rainy season, which lasts several weeks, and can prompt local authorities to issue evacuation orders

Shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka were temporarily stopped due to the heavy rain, while other local trains in rain-affected areas were also halted, rail company websites said.

Japan is prone to floods and landslides in its annual rainy season, which lasts several weeks, and can prompt local authorities to issue evacuation orders.

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the phenomenon because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, resulting in more intense rainfall.

Last July, massive floods and landslides were triggered after record heavy rain in western Japan, which saw authorities issue evacuation orders for more than 76,000 residents.

And in 2018, more than 200 people died after devastating floods inundated western Japan, which left residents stranded on their rooftops after rivers burst their banks and swamped whole communities.

In Kumano, downpours had loosened earth on the surrounding hillsides, and sent multiple waves of mud crashing down onto the homes below.

Following the 2018 disaster, experts slammed Japan's warning system as problematic, saying the decision to issue evacuation orders often left to local officials who may have no disaster management experience.

A resident stands near mud and debris at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami

Around 2,800 homes in Atami have been left without power following the disaster, according to the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Pictured: Mud and debris at the scene of the landslide

A police car passes into a cordoned-off area near the site of a landslide, which was caused by days of heavy rainfall

Soldiers of Japan's Self-Defense Force patrol at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture as a rescue and evacuation operation is underway

The landslide was caused by Japan's annual rainy season, which lasts several weeks, and can prompt local authorities to issue evacuation orders

Members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces patrol at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on July 3

Police officers cordoned off the area as a rescue operation was underway to find anyone who might be buried underneath the layers of mud as fears of fatalities increase

Shocking video footage showed the mudslide collapsing down the hillside and obliterating buildings in its path, sending people fleeing for their lives as the dislodged hillside buried part of a road

First responders, including firefighters, police officers and military personnel, were at the scene of a horrifying landslide in the Izusan area of Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on Saturday

A general view shows shows mud and debris at the scene of a landslide following days of heavy rain in Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on Saturday

Japan is prone to floods and landslides in its annual rainy season, which lasts several weeks. Pictured: Buildings were left damaged and destroyed after a mudslide descended on the Izusan district in Atami, west of Tokyo on Saturday

Residents stop before a mudslide triggered by torrential rain cover the Route One to block traffic at hot-spring resort area Izusan in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the phenomenon because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, resulting in more intense rainfall. Pictured: Mud and debris at the scene of the mudslide on Saturday

Police officers stand guard behind a cordon ribbon near the site of the landslide on Saturday

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick. Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o

NowMyNews

Search This Blog