Rescuers struggle to locate dozens in mudslide-hit town; 4 confirmed dead

"Evacuate!"

"Okay, let's see, keitai, wallet, car keys, eyeglasses, umbrella, and slippers for the evacuation center" - all of which are FAR more important to bring than mum who cannot walk well. Anyone familiar with Japanese law who can say whether Mr. Suzuki will face some kind of criminal charges for abandoning his mother to a certain death? We read about 'abandoning a corpse' charges all the time in these JT stories - how about abandoning a parent?

It looks like this was human caused by dumping lots of excavated soil into a natural valley. The soil acted as a dam which held for years, but was breached by historic rainfall over the past few days. Since it was a dam, when it went, it went big and released a violent torrent of mud and water. The vast majority of homes below the slope were unaffected, and only those in a narrow strip in the path of the torrent got hit. So living "at the bottom of mountains" is not the issue. The victims were those unfortunate enough to be in the path of this artificially dumped soil. You can see drone footage of the area here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzaI4i5ue9Y

To me, the megasolar looks far enough away and like it drains into other valleys. The dumping of soil predates the megasolar and was done for real estate development.

We have to re-adjust where we build our homes. Not near rivers, seas, at the bottom of mountains.... Nature has its own agenda and will continue to do so.

True but that is very hard in a country like Japan where pretty much the whole country is near either a river, sea or mountain.

I just can't help and compare the attitude of the rescue workers in Japan and the US. In the US, the workers in Miami have already given up. They didn't want to look for any more victims because they were afraid of the rain and are working in a city . In Japan, the rescue workers are fighting the rain and the mountain terrain and have not given up. Given the above. What conclusion can you draw about the respective rescue workers and the countries they represent?

This is stupid and just plain dishonest. Rescue workers in Miami have been working around the clock in extremely dangerous conditions for two weeks trying to find victims. They've earned my respect, just like those working in Atami have (and I say this as someone with experience working in disaster relief operations when I was a soldier many years ago).

I was involved with the 2011 Christchurch earthquake up as a member of the NZDF. I was caught in the 2018 West Japan disaster with the house behind mine being completely washed away, roads impassable for 3 days and no water for almost 2 weeks.

I have full respect for the rescuers, it's a heart breaking job. For the people displaced I hope they can keep keeping on.

The warning systems Japan has in place are world leading. Their meteorological data is second to none. But, I feel they too often pull the trigger too early leading to complacency. It happened in 2018; everyone ignored the warnings and evacuation orders. They happen at least once a month this time of year it's only natural to ignore them.

I hope more money is spent on infrastructure (real drainage not just a blocked gutter on the high side of the road that goes nowhere) and more importance put on geotech surveys and reports.

I just can't help and compare the attitude of the rescue workers in Japan and the US. In the US, the workers in Miami have already given up. 

What conclusion can you draw about the respective rescue workers and the countries they represent?

Seriously? I dont think this is the time to be boasting/attacking other nations. A tragedy is a tragedy anywhere. I remember the footage of dozens of rescue workers heading up the twin towers 20 years ago to certain death. Rescue workers everywhere are brave and do a job the rest of us cannot.

I hope they can locate as many bodies as possible to comfort the bereaved families.

RIP to the many dozens of victims.

I just can't help and compare the attitude of the rescue workers in Japan and the US. In the US, the workers in Miami have already given up. They didn't want to look for any more victims because they were afraid of the rain and are working in a city . In Japan, the rescue workers are fighting the rain and the mountain terrain and have not given up. Given the above. What conclusion can you draw about the respective rescue workers and the countries they represent?

NHK reported that the amount of soils in the mudslide is extremely large. It is sure the soils left there contributed to a large scale mudslide.

Deepest respect to the rescue workers. Can you imagine the daunting task of sifting through all that mud and debris? It just seems impossible, but time is of the essence, with each passing minute not being able to find anyone alive the survival rate goes down. I wish them all in the best in finding people, but looking at the carnage, I find it highly doubtful.

A hell of a task, it's going to take along time to locate the missing people, can't use machinery as it will damage the bodies, heartbreaking.

The real estate company said soils left there had nothing to do with the mudslide since they had heavy rainfalls often in the past but the mudslide did not happen. They also said they reported leaving the soils there to the local government and received their permission.

Even though the chances of survival are thin at this point, I hope the rescue workers can keep up their efforts.