Mudslides This mudslide was photographed in 2013 on the Izu…

Mudslides This mudslide was photographed in 2013 on the Izu…

Mudslides

This mudslide was photographed in 2013 on the Izu Islands near Japan.  The Izu islands are a chain of volcanic islands that extends almost due south from Tokyo bay. Izu Oshima is the closest island to the Japanese main islands, about 120 kilometers south of Tokyo. About 8200 people live on the island, which is home to one of Japan’s many active volcanoes, Mount Mihara.

The heavy rains from a storm called Typhoon Wipha caused multiple hillslopes on the island to give way, leading to large debris flows and mudslides which poured into communities below while the storm pounded the island. In this photo you see one of those mudslides; you can clearly make out the surface on which the hillslope broke away and the piles of debris at the foot of the flows entering settled areas.

Controversy has erupted on the island over decisions made during the storm. No warnings to evacuate were issued by local authorities despite the approaching storm, so some families chose to stay in their homes in mudslide-prone areas. The island’s mayor stated that he regrets not issuing warnings, but once the storm began lashing the island he had to choose between suggesting people should stay in their homes sheltered from the storm or venturing out into the heart of the storm at night to try to reach evacuation centers. This type of situation – where people are struggling with decisions to evacuate from storms – is one we have seen play out several times over recent months. 

-JBB

Image credit: Kyodo News, AP

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Typhoon-mudslides-kill-17-in-Japan-50-missing-4899048.php

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/asia/2013/10/typhoon_mudslides_kill_18_in_japan_45_missing

Press reports:

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/typhoon-mudslides-kill-17-in-japan-50-missing-1.377179

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000732351

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/17/national/rescuers-comb-izu-oshima-mudslide-for-typhoon-survivors

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000732351