Rain-lashed Japan in new landslide fear

Heavy rain again lashes south-west Japan, triggering fears of more landslides and hampering the clean-up operation after a record deluge that left at least 32 people dead or missing.

YAME, JAPAN // Heavy rain again lashed south-west Japan yesterday, triggering fears of more landslides and hampering the clean-up operation after a record deluge that has left at least 32 people dead or missing.

Four days of torrential rain on Kyushu island has caused rivers to burst their banks, with the muddy floodwaters destroying or inundating houses.

Electricity remained cut off to 2,100 houses in the northern part of Kyushu, according to Kyushu Electric Power, while governments rushed out emergency response teams to villagers isolated by landslides.

Troops were called in on Sunday to airlift supplies.

Helicopters have also been dispatched to rescue the elderly.

But efforts to restore electricity and normality faced further difficulties with the arrival yesterday of more, relentless rain. The meteorological agency warned of more landslides if the downpour does not stop.

"We are stepping up efforts to remove rubble as roads remain covered with mud at many points," said Masatatsu Minoda, an official from Kyushu's Kumamoto prefecture. "Workers are engaged in clean-up efforts while taking care against possible further landslides." He added that they may have to stop working if the rain continues.

All but 6,000 of the 400,000 people forced to leave their homes on the island were allowed back after authorities lifted evacuation orders on Sunday.