Heavy rain on Friday hampered the search for 52 people believed buried alive on the edge of Hiroshima as opposition politicians hounded Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for golfing and relaxing while responding to the disaster.

Rescuers feared the continuing rain could set off further mudslides in the area after a month's worth of rain fell overnight Wednesday, loosening slopes already saturated by heavy rain over the past few weeks.

The death toll stood at 39 as of Friday evening.