Rescuers are still searching through the debris after massive landslides slammed into a residential area on the outskirts of Japan’s western city of Hiroshima.<br /><br />At least 39 people including several children have been killed – more are still missing.<br /><br />The equivalent of a months rain fell in the 24 hours up to Wednesday morning loosening mountain slopes already saturated by heavy rain over the past few weeks.<br /><br />Residents spoke of water rushing through their homes and mud burying houses.<br /><br />Hiroshima authorities only issued an evacuation notice one hour after the first landslide. They admitted underestimating the amount of rainfall.<br /><br />Much of central and southern Japan is mountainous with many homes built on precariously steep slopes.<br /><br />Officials have warned of more rain to come.
