Nearly 50 people were killed and missing in landslides in Japan

A total of 39 people were claimed to have died and seven were still missing on August 20 after a series of landslides and floods caused by heavy rains sank residential areas in Hiroshima Prefecture. in western Japan, on the night of August 19 and early August 20.

>>>Landslide in Japan, dozens of people were killed and missing

The Japanese government deployed 600 soldiers of the Defense Forces (SDF) to the scene to participate in rescue work throughout the night.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, having a summer vacation, has shortened his time to return to his Tokyo office to handle the disaster.

In Asakita prefecture in Hiroshima prefecture, one of the most heavily affected areas - a record rainfall of 217.5mm fell in 3 hours from 1:30 am on August 20. Hiroshima City began recommending evacuation at 4:15 am on the same day but an official acknowledging this was too late. Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui expressed his regret over the late evacuation recommendation and said the city would improve these restrictions.

Defense forces search for missing people.(Photo: AFP / VNA)

A 2-year-old boy and 11-year-old brother were killed after being buried in a house in Asaminami district, bordering Asakita district at around 3:20 am. Masayuki Murakami, a 35-year-old neighbor, said after hearing the land on the mountain moving behind the house, he called the children to evacuate. The stone was buried after he drove out of the house.

Another 40-year-old man who lives nearby listens to the voices of the children 'mothers asking for help. He used his bare hands to scoop away the rock to save the two-year-old boy but did not keep up because the fallen trees and furniture blocked the way.

Many urgent calls informed about landslides and many people in Asakita district. A 75-year-old woman living in the area said the roads looked like a river. He said: 'I think it's dangerous to go out so I was in my room listening to news about the disaster that night.'

A firefighter - 53-year-old was killed while rescuing efforts in Asakita prefecture. According to the people here, landslides happen twice between 4 and 6 am.

Many residential areas are built on unstable ground in Hiroshima mountains. Land in Hiroshima is said to be prone to erosion if it experiences heavy rain. In June 1999, heavy rains caused landslides that left 32 people dead and missing in Hiroshima.

According to the Japanese government, in the past decade, there were about 1,200 landslides causing serious damage, up from an average of 770 cases / year of the previous decade.

Last October, successive landslides on Izu-Oshima island, south of Tokyo, claimed 35 lives and four are still missing.