Shocking videos captured the moment a powerful landslide destroyed dozens of homes in Atami, located 100 kilometers from Tokyo, after heavy rainfall on Saturday. According to a report by Reuters, around 130 buildings were damaged on Saturday morning when landslides swept through the city of Atami, a hot spring resort situated on a steep slope leading to the bay.
Witnesses reported hearing sounds resembling a lion's roar as waves of mud engulfed rows of houses. One witness told NHK, "I heard a terrifying sound and saw a landslide flowing down while rescue workers urged people to evacuate. So I ran to higher ground." Up to 80 homes were completely buried, while local residents watched in horror, according to an official from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
At least 20 people are missing, and reports indicate that three people have died. As rescue and search operations continue, officials fear that this number could rise to one hundred. A local official told AFP, "We are doing our utmost to search for survivors as quickly as possible while carrying out the operation with extreme caution as it continues to rain."
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed condolences to the victims of the landslide and assured that emergency workers are doing their best to save lives and assist in evacuation efforts. It is noteworthy that Japan is prone to landslides, with an average of 1,500 landslides occurring annually over the past decade.
