Heavy rains 🌧️ in western Japan have triggered a massive landslide in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, leaving three people missing 😢.
Early Friday morning, around 4 a.m., a slope about 50 meters wide and 100 meters high collapsed from a mountain ⛰️, sending a torrent of mud and debris crashing into nearby homes and an apartment building 🏠🏢. Local authorities, along with police and firefighters, are racing against time to find the missing individuals 🕵️♂️.
The disaster-hit Shimizu district has been placed under a level-five evacuation alert 🚨—the highest level—urging residents to take immediate action to protect their lives. This means moving to a sturdy building, the upper floor of a house, or any other safe location 🏃♀️🏃♂️.
Since Wednesday, Matsuyama has been drenched with 213 millimeters of rainfall ⛈️—that's equivalent to the entire monthly average for July! The Japan Meteorological Agency is warning that the rainy-season front is lingering over the Pacific side of western to eastern Japan, creating unstable atmospheric conditions through Saturday 🌫️.
Locals are being urged to stay vigilant 🧐 for more landslides and flooding, especially in low-lying areas. The situation is evolving, and we'll keep you updated as more information becomes available 📢.
Stay safe out there, amigos! 🙏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
