Landslides in Japan

Saturday, July 3, torrential rain throughout Japan resulted in catastrophic landslides throughout cities like Atami and Tokyo. The disaster led to hundreds of people going missing and at least three casualties. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga deployed the military, police, and firefighters to form rescue missions. Thousands of rescuers worked tirelessly across the nation to help locate the 80 civilians missing in Tokyo and the 113 in Atami.

The landslides were a product of heavy rainfall that occurred consecutively for multiple days. The magnitude of rainfall was so great that the amount that fell within 24 hours was more than what would fall for the entire month of July in an average season. On Saturday, landslides consisting of a great deal of water, black mud, rocks, trees, and debris from buildings emerged and swept through cities, resulting in heavy damages to homes, roads, and property. In Tokyo, 80 people were deemed missing, but none were confirmed to be dead. The situation was far grimmer in Atami, a “seaside resort town” just 60 miles southwest of Tokyo. There were three reported fatalities, 113 missing cases out of a small population of 36,000, and approximately 130 buildings destroyed in Atami by the landslides, which eventually flowed into a 1.2-mile long river leading to the sea. The city was left in such devastating condition that even light rain could result in even more landslides. As more rain was forecasted shortly, officials anticipated a pressing threat.

Japan is no stranger to natural disasters, ranking high in the chance of disaster and number of occurrences compared to other countries. Its location upon the Ring of Fire, a ring-shaped area around the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur, plays a significant role in this aspect. To illustrate, 10% of the world’s known active volcanoes are in Japan.

Additionally, the recent landslides are a significant impediment in the progression of the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, set to begin in roughly two weeks. Japan, still reeling from the coronavirus, is now confronting severe preparation complications in the wake of the storms. Some engineering companies based in Japan experienced desirable growth after the disaster occurred due to their relevance to the field. Raito Kogyo rose 1.5%, and CE Management Integrated Laboratory rose 3.7%, indicating the consequence of natural occurrences upon the seemingly artificial economic market.

As news of the devastation propagates, many organizations are getting involved to help those affected. One such organization is the Japanese Red Cross, which directly aids those harmed by disasters of all sorts. In this case, coronavirus patients also benefit. Such actions promote the health and safety of Japanese communities and ensure that preparation for the Tokyo Olympics can advance. To contribute to this cause by donating, please visit the link below this article.

Website Link: https://www.jrc.or.jp/contribute/