A memorial service commemorating the second anniversary of landslides that claimed the lives of 77 people was held in the city of Hiroshima on Saturday.
At the ceremony jointly hosted by the city and the Hiroshima Prefectural Government in the ward of Asaminami, one of the hardest hit areas, about 500 people observed a moment of silence and prayed for the victims.
Torrential rain caused a series of landslides in residential areas close to mountains in the city early on Aug. 20, 2014. About 400 houses were either washed away or damaged.
Rebuilding efforts are continuing with 29 mudslide-control dams having been completed, but the construction of evacuation routes and drainage facilities is lagging due to slow progress in land acquisition.
About 36 disaster-affected families still living in temporary housing will move to new homes soon, according to the city.