Officials reported Sunday that a rush of mud swept away homes and cars in a vacation town southwest of Tokyo, killing at least two people and leaving about 20 others missing.

In Atami, where hundreds of firefighters, military forces, and three coast guard ships worked from dawn Saturday to try to reach individuals believed to be trapped or carried away by the mudslide, ten people were rescued and up to 80 homes were buried.

Following severe rains that began many days ago, the deluge smashed down a slope into rows of buildings. Bystanders recorded the sight on cell phone video, their cries of shock audible. Witnesses reported hearing a huge roar and then watching helplessly as their homes were swept away by the dirty seas.

According to Tatsushi Ueda, a Shizuoka prefecture official in charge of disaster prevention, the two confirmed deaths, both ladies, were swept into the water and discovered by the coast guard.

One of the ten people who were rescued sustained minor injuries. According to Ueda, 121 persons had been evacuated from Atami.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has established a task force to assist in the rescue operation.
Atami is a small beach resort town in Shizuoka Prefecture, about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo. Izusan, the mudslide-affected area, is home to hot springs, residential areas, shopping lanes, and a well-known temple.

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