The landslide that occurred in Atami, Japan, on a Saturday morning, 3rd July 2021, affected 300 homes, killed two people and left 20 others missing. Hundreds of rescuers began looking for survivors.
Atami City has experienced more rainfall in the first few days of July than it usually does for the whole month, the BBC reports.
Governor Heita Kawakatsu tells reporters that “because of the heavy rain, the ground loosened, and the mudslide occurred…it picked up speed and swept away houses together with people” (At least two, 2021).
As more rains are forecasted in the next few days and with the additional warnings for further flooding in low-lying areas and sediment-related disasters, the residents of Shizuoka and other neighbouring prefectures of Kanagawa and Chiba were told to evacuate.
According to the BBC article, climate change makes these extreme weather events happen more frequently and become more destructive. Increasing rainfall events due to climate change will also raise the risk of devastating mudslides.
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