[chris]

One month after the large mudslide in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, videos filmed by residents showed mud, water and debris crashing into homes and buildings in the Izusan district on July 3.

Heavy rain had been hitting the area since July 1. A rain gauge in Atami's Minaguchi district, near Izusan, recorded 465 millimeters of rain by 10:30 a.m. on July 3.

The mudslide initially killed two people and left around 20 others missing. Experts said the steep mountainside and poor soil quality made the area vulnerable, with ancient volcanic ash deposits contributing to the risk.

One expert said the videos showed dark debris containing volcanic ash, moving at about 30 kph. The mudslide was reported to be 4 to 5 meters high, reaching the second floors of homes.

A land ministry hazard map had designated Izusan and nearby communities as areas at risk of collapse and landslides. A large mudslide also occurred near the district during the magnitude 7.9 Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.