Intermittent rain and the risk of a secondary disaster posed challenges for rescue workers racing against time following a large mudslide in a hot spring resort town southwest of Tokyo that killed at least four people, destroyed at least 130 houses and left an uncertain number missing.
Firefighters, police and Self-Defense Forces personnel continued to search mud-swamped houses in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, and remove debris after having rescued 23 people by Sunday. One person was reported injured and over 560 people took shelter in local hotels, according to the city.
On Monday, another three of those who had been missing were found by the rescue team, the city government said. One was confirmed dead later in the day, while the other two are reportedly not in a life-threatening condition.