Advertisement

Tragic loss of life in landslide

The death toll from devastating midweek landslides in Hiroshima has risen to 50, as fresh rain stoked fears of more disasters and hampered the round-the-clock search for survivors.

The regional police headquarters in the western Japan city said 38 other people remained unaccounted for, four days after unusual downpours triggered landslides that swallowed dozens of homes, many of them perched on hillside housing areas.

A total of about 3,000 rescuers including ground troops, fire fighters and police continued digging through mud and debris but the search and rescue operation overnight was halted at around dawn Sunday as fresh rain raised concerns about more landslips, public broadcaster NHK reported.

About 1700 people remain sheltered at 13 safe public facilities while the Hiroshima city government upheld evacuation orders and warnings for 164,000 residents in the disaster areas.

The body of a 83-year-old man was found early Sunday, raising the death toll to 50, a prefectural police spokesman said.

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.