Death toll from Hiroshima landslides reaches 50

[yuiyoshida]

The death toll from devastating midweek landslides in Hiroshima rose to 50 with 38 others missing on Sunday as fresh rain stoked fears of more disasters and hampered the round-the-clock search for survivors.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called off a planned inspection tour of the western Japan city by helicopter on the day as his presence was feared to further complicate the search and rescue mission as rain intensified, media reports said.

Abe, 59, has been criticised by opposition parties and some media for continuing to play golf in a summer resort for about one hour after being informed of the disaster, which occured early Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two women were killed Sunday on the remote island of Rebun, some 1,350-kilometres (840 miles) northeast of Hiroshima, when a rain-triggered landslide crushed their home, local officials said.

http://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-hiroshima-landslides-reaches-50-police-020034067.html?bcmt=comments-postbox

[840high]

1. Terrible tragedy.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. I had to look up Rebun Island

It's just off the northern tip of Hokkaido, not too far from Sakhalin Island. The Japanese new reports say that there was record-breaking rainfall there.

[raven mad]

3. I hope safety for all of you, knowing it's too late for some.

[KT2000]

4. How terrible

Here's hoping the missing are found alive.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Apparently 10 of the missing have been found dead

According to the latest Japanese news report (posted one hour ago), the death toll has risen to 60 (compared to 50 in the OP), and the number of missing persons is now 26 (compared to 38 in the OP). So that would seem to indicate that 2 of the missing were found alive, and 10 were found dead.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20140826-OYT1T50046.html

[KT2000]

6. Oh no -

this is so sad.

[Art_from_Ark]

7. Search and rescue efforts are continuing

with teams composed of local police and self-defense forces. They have rescued about 3000 people so far, and they are working frantically to locate the remaining missing persons.

[yuiyoshida]

8. Thank you for the update Art-san

Doumo arigatou goziamasu!

[Art_from_Ark]

9. I've been looking for updates

but the lastest news posting seems to be from 2 hours ago. It's a tough job looking for those people, given the mess that the landslides have caused, and the downpour that occurred earlier today.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. That part of Hiroshima was issued a new evacuation advisory today

Residents of the Ansa Minami district of Hiroshima City were advised earlier today to start preparing for possible evacuation to designated shelters, etc., due to landslides

http://crisis.yahoo.co.jp/evacuation/34/