2014 Hiroshima landslides

Coordinates: 34°29′12″N 132°29′33″E / 34.48667°N 132.492553°E / 34.48667; 132.492553

2014 Hiroshima landslides

Location of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan
Date	20 August 2014 (2014-08-20)
Location	Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Also known as	広島土砂災害(Hiroshima Dosha Saigai), 平成26年8月19日からの豪雨災害(Heisei 26-nen 8 tsuki 19-nichi Kara no Gōu Saigai)
Cause	Landslide due to heavy rain
Deaths	74[1] (74 identified)[1]
Non-fatal injuries	69[1]
Missing	0 [1]

On 20 August 2014, Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan was struck by a series of landslides following heavy rain. Seventy-four people are reported dead. According to the police, the dead include three boys aged two, three and eleven.^[2][3]

Cause

Following torrential rain in which a month's worth fell in a single day, several landslides were triggered near a mountain beside the city of Hiroshima.^[2] Asakita-ku was the hardest-hit ward. It received 217.5 millimetres (8.56 in) of rain from 1:30 am to 4:30 am causing two landslides which occurred between 4 am and 6 am. Hiroshima issued an evacuation advisory at 4:15 am. Mayor Kazumi Matsui confessed regret over the advisory's late issuance and recommended that the city study the incident to improve the process.^[4]

Under the law which took effect in 2001, prefectural governments and other authorities must carry out on-site research to designate areas for which evacuation plans and hazard maps will be created. In Hiroshima there are about 32,000 possibly dangerous areas, the highest of all 47 prefectures.^[5]

Casualties

Landslide damage

As of 20 September 2014, at least 70 people have died. One of the dead was a rescue worker killed after the hillside collapsed a second time.^[2] Two children, aged 2 and 11, died in a mudslide in Asaminami-ku around 3:20am.^[4] The number of casualties was initially feared to be 100.^[6] The number missing was reported to be 52 on the morning of 22 August, but in the afternoon it was revised to 47,^[7] then to 46 on the morning of the 23rd, and later on the morning of the same day to 43.^[8] On 9 September, police announced that they had found one body, which has since been identified.^[9] Another body was found on 18 September,^[10] which has since then been also identified.^[11]

On 23 August, Hiroshima city was considering publishing a list of missing persons to speed up safety confirmation.^[12] A missing persons list with 28 names in it was published on 25 August.^[13] As of 19 September, all bodies of 28 of those listed have been found and identified.^[11][14]

Burials for two of the youngest victims – eleven years old and two years old – and the firefighter, were conducted on 22 August.^[15][16]

Buddhist memorial service was held on 23 September^[17] and Shijukunichi^{[lower-alpha 1]} service for ten victims on 28 September,^[18] for several others on 4 October^[19] and officially on 7 October.^[20]

Rescue efforts

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe directed the military to deploy hundreds of personnel to assist the local rescue teams.^[2] Japanese Red Cross^[21] and the NPO Peace Winds Japan^[22] also sent staff, and an estimated 1,300 people have volunteered. Disaster Volunteer of Hiroshima City decided to discontinue activities on 24 August.^[23] Volunteers continued later, but stopped temporarily on 4 September because of bad weather.^[24]

An estimated 2,000^[25]–3,600^[26] rescuers consisting of firefighters, police and members of the Self-Defense Force took part in searching and clearing debris despite rain and dangerous conditions that hampered and sometimes halted their efforts. There was also ongoing risk for a secondary disaster, and more rain was forecast for the area.^{[27][lower-alpha 2]} Consequently, residents on Asakita and Asaminami were told to evacuate.^[28] Because schools were being used as shelters, several had to postpone the start dates.^[29] All elementary school shelters were closed 1 November.^[30]

Evacuation advisories were partially lifted for Asaminami-ku on Sunday, 31 August, allowing about 14,400 persons (around 5700 households) to return to their homes.^[31]

Number of persons and households in shelters, by date:

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe planned to visit the disaster area on the morning of 24 August, but bad weather postponed his visit by one day.^[53]

Emperor and Empress visited Hiroshima 3 December. Their Majesties observed damage, met survivors, SDF personnel, firefighters, police and volunteers.^[54]

The 5 September Cabinet of Japan meeting estimated that 900 million yen is needed for Hiroshima's recovery. (The valuation of the damage caused by the landslide is incomplete.)^[55]

Hiroshima prefectural and municipal governments decided to provide 157 public housing units, for evacuees, free of charge. Officials were forced to hold a lottery after 284 households applied. Local governments are also preparing to build temporary housing for those who lost their homes.^[56] The procedures will begin on 28 August, which is also the earliest day tenants can move in.^[57] According to the city, municipal housing is provided rent-free for up to a maximum six-month stay, as a general rule.^[58]

On 2 September, officials issued a new evacuation advisory to parts of Asaminami-ku, fearing that a nearby slope might collapse and cause more damage. This affected around 2,520 persons(about 980 households).^[59]

Voluntarily evacuation order was issued 24 September to districts of Asakita and Asaminami-ku because Typhoon 16.^[60] At next day, part of it was cancelled.^[61]

On 1 October and further 7 October and 17th, evacuation advisories were cancelled for several parts of area.^[62][63][64]

On 20 November, last evacuation advisory was cancelled and 42 people (16 households) were able to return to their homes.^[65]

The last shelter was closed 25 December.^[66]

See also

• List of landslides

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2014 Hiroshima landslides.

• Pictures by Geospatial Information Authority
• Pictures by Pasco Corp.
• Pictures by Kokusai Kogyo Co.
• Pictures by アジア航測