狸の親子さんの おぼえた日記 - 2021年7月7日(水)

Massive amounts of mud, debris hamper rescue work -NHK WORLD-JAPAN 9 hours ago

The search for survivors continues in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo ,following Saturday's devastating mudslides.


Seven people have been confirmed dead and more than 20 are unaccounted for.

Massive volumes of mud and debris are hampering the rescue operations.

A torrent of mud washed away about 130 buildings.

The sediment has accumulated to head height, and workers are digging by hand to prevent injuring anyone who has been buried.

Firefighters are checking inside each damaged house, looking for survivors.

Aerial photos released by the government show the entire trace of the mudslides stretching for about two kilometers to the coast. It's up to about 160 meters wide.

On Tuesday, rescuers confirmed three more people had died, bringing the total to seven.

They are trying to determine if more than 20 others were also caught up in the disaster.

With the region still in the midst of the rainy season, weather officials are warning that even a small amount of rain could cause more landslides.