2021 Atami landslide
 An aerial photograph outlining the damage | |
| Date | 3 July 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:30 a.m. (JST) |
| Location | Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Cause | Heavy rainfall |
| Deaths | 9 |
| Missing | 21 |
Following torrential rainfall, a landslide was triggered which swept through the Izusan neighbourhood of Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan on 3 July 2021. Nine people died during the landslide and 21 went missing.[1] The city received 310 millimetres (12.4 in) of rainfall in a 48-hour period, which prompted authorities to warn residents of "life threatening" conditions.[2] The landslide destroyed a number of houses and left roads covered with debris.[2] Search and rescue operations were underway as of 3 July, with local authorities reporting that they had received approximately ten phone calls from people trapped in their houses.[3]
Background
Atami is a seaside city located approximately 109 kilometres (68 miles) 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.[4] In the latter half of the 20th century, the city saw growth as a resort town, with development continuing 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.[5] 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 790 mm (31 in) of rainfall was measured at Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, while a measurement of 550 mm (22 in) was gathered at Gotemba, Shizuoka.[3]
References
- ^ "Death Toll from Central Japan Mudslide Rises to 9". Jiji Press. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Hida, Hikari; Bengali, Shashank (3 July 2021). "Landslide in Japanese Resort Town Leaves at Least 19 Missing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ a b "2 feared dead, 20 missing after large mudslide hits Atami". Japan Today. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Visit Atami | Approximately 40 minutes from Tokyo Ocean Hot Spring Resort – Atami Tourism Information Site". travel.ataminews.gr.jp. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Rainy Season (Tsuyu)". www.japan-guide.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
External links
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