Japan won’t give up search for survivors as flood toll climbs
The death toll from heavy rains that lashed western Japan crossed 200 on Thursday as rescue workers searched the ruins of homes for dozens of people still missing.
Operations were under way to dig out and clear up after floods and landslides engulfed entire neighbourhoods.
But with about 60 people still missing, authorities said they would continue searching house by house looking for survivors – or bodies.
“The critical 72 hours have passed,” said Mutsunari Imawaka, an official with Okayama prefecture, one of the worst-hit regions. “But we will continue our search believing there are survivors,” he said.
He said at least 18 people were missing in Okayama alone, and that several thousand people were checking houses across the region.
Television footage showed dozens of rescuers, including troops, removing massive rocks with mechanical diggers from houses buried in landslides. Rescuers were also manually shovelling earth to search for missing people.
The rains are the deadliest weather-related disaster in more than three decades in Japan, and the death toll has raised questions about whether authorities were sufficiently prepared. Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the number of dead had reached 201.
“Since a lot of people are still unaccounted for, we are carrying out rescue operations under a policy that saving lives is the top priority,” Mr Suga said.
“Being determined to do whatever we can do as a government, we want to continue tackling restoration and reconstruction in the disaster zone.”
On Wednesday, he said there would be a review of disaster management policies.
“In recent years we have seen damage from heavy rains that is much worse than in previous years,” he said. “We have to review what the government can do to reduce the risks.”
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who cancelled a foreign trip as the death toll rose, brushed aside criticism of the response during a trip to Okayama on Wednesday. “We have done our best since the disaster happened,” he said.
On Thursday, he pledged increased help for affected areas and said the government had secured temporary accommodation for about 71,000 people forced to leave their homes.