2021 Atami landslide explained
A landslide swept through the Izusan neighbourhood of Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on 3 July 2021 after torrential rainfall, killing 27 people and injuring 3.[1] [2] The city received 12.4inches of rainfall in a 48-hour period, which prompted authorities to warn residents of "life threatening" conditions.[3] The landslide destroyed a number of houses and left roads covered with debris.[4] Search and rescue operations were launched on 3 July, with local authorities reporting that they had received about ten phone calls from people trapped in their houses.[5]
Background
Atami is a seaside city located approximately 68miles from Tokyo, in the coastal prefecture of Shizuoka in the Chūbu region of Central Japan. Situated on the edge of the prefecture's mountain ranges, it is known for its steep valleys and hills.[6] While Atami has been a popular resort town for centuries, it saw rapid growth during the mid-20th century, with development occurring inland.
One of Japan's defining characteristics in terms of weather is its rainy season in early summer, which spans from late May to early July.[7] Prior to the landslide, there had been several days of continuous torrential rainfall in the vicinity of Atami. At the time of the incident, this rainfall was continuing to take place; approximately 790mm of rainfall was measured at Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, while a measurement of 550mm was gathered at Gotemba, Shizuoka.
Investigation
Investigations into the cause of the landslide are ongoing. Authorities are investigating suggestions by experts that improperly accumulated soil brought in for development purposes may have been partially responsible for the landslide.[8]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 9 July 2021 . Death Toll from Central Japan Mudslide Rises to 9 . 9 July 2021 . Jiji Press . 9 July 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190315/https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2021070801237 .
- Web site: Improper soil accumulation suspected of leading to Japan mudslide . The Japan Times . 10 July 2021 . Kyodo . 9 July 2021 . registration . 9 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709082146/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/09/national/atami-landslide-soil/ . live .
- Web site: Hida . Hikari . Bengali . Shashank . Landslide in Japanese Resort Town Leaves at Least 19 Missing . The New York Times . 3 July 2021 . 3 July 2021 . 3 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703081004/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/03/world/asia/japan-landslide-atami.html . live . limited .
- News: Japan landslide: 20 missing in Atami city . BBC News . 3 July 2021 . 3 July 2021 . 3 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703135446/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57704967 . live.
- Web site: 2 feared dead, 20 missing after large mudslide hits Atami . live. 2021-07-03. Japan Today. 3 July 2021 . en. 3 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703162207/https://japantoday.com/category/national/2-feared-dead-20-missing-after-large-mudslide-hits-Atami.
- Web site: Visit Atami Approximately 40 minutes from Tokyo Ocean Hot Spring Resort – Atami Tourism Information Site. 2021-07-03. travel.ataminews.gr.jp. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184210/https://travel.ataminews.gr.jp/. live.
- Web site: Rainy Season (Tsuyu). 2021-07-03. www.japan-guide.com. en. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803071243/http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2277.html. live.
- Web site: Tomoko . Kamata . Atami mudslides: landfill soil may have triggered the disaster . NHK WORLD-JAPAN . NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) . 10 July 2021 . en . 9 July 2021 . 8 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210708080813/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1703/ . live .
