Image Credits - The Japan News
In the aftermath of a devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains, authorities recovered three bodies on July 13 from a residential area near Matsuyama Castle. The landslide, which struck around 3:50 a.m. on July 12, engulfed a home and damaged several buildings, causing significant destruction.
The victims, believed to be a man in his 90s, a woman in her 80s, and a man in his 40s, had been reported missing since the disaster. Their bodies were discovered just after 2 p.m. on July 13, but police are still working to confirm their identities. Since the incident, rescue efforts have been ongoing, as officials urgently searched for the missing family.
The landslide occurred when a section of the mountain slope, approximately 100 meters high and 50 meters wide, collapsed. This disaster was precipitated by an extraordinary 213 millimetres of rainfall that fell between July 10 and the morning of July 12, nearly equaling the average total for the entire month of July in Matsuyama. The Matsuyama Local Meteorological Observatory had previously issued warnings about the heavy rain, cautioning residents of potential landslides and flooding.
Rescue operations continued through the night, as officials called for vigilance in the face of the persistent heavy rains that have impacted western Japan. Ehime prefectural authorities confirmed the deaths of two men and a woman following exhaustive search efforts.
An Ehime official stated, “We still don’t know if the three who were discovered are those who have been unaccounted for,” highlighting the ongoing efforts to verify the victims’ identities.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, authorities continue to urge residents in affected areas to remain alert and cautious.