20 missing after mudslide hits Atami

The aftermath of a mudslide in the Izusan district in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, is seen on Saturday. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

ATAMI, Shizuoka -- About 20 people were reported missing after a mudslide triggered by torrential rain destroyed homes in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Saturday, according to the prefectural government.

The mudflow hit several houses and vehicles in the city's Izusan district, and some residents are feared to have been swept away in the disaster.

Several emergency calls were made at around 10:30 a.m., reporting that a mudflow had occurred in the Izusan district about 1-1/2 kilometers north of JR Atami Station.

(Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

The prefectural government set up a task force at noon and asked the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch personnel.

Damage caused by heavy rain is seen alongside the Kaname River in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Saturday morning. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

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