Landslide in Japan Produces Viral Video; 20 Residents of Atami Missing

Viral video of a landslide in Atami, Japan shows the damage inflicted on a picturesque mountainside town, as tons of mud and debris from recent rains crash down a mountain road.

The town of 35,000 is built on an extinct volcano's caldera. Rain liquified the soil, causing it to slide downhill. The driver of a van is shown speeding downhill just ahead of the slide, as the roar of the event and the horrified crowd are heard in the background.

Atami is a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2019, the city had an estimated population of 36,865 in 21,593 households and a population density of 600 persons per km². The total area of the city is 61.78 square KM.

A coastal resort complete with hot springs, Atami has been a favorite vacation spot for Tokyoites dating back to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Though the city's main draws are its beach boardwalk and spas, visitors can take in some history staying in early 20th-century private villas converted to inns and catching the afternoon Geisha dance performance at Geigi Kenban.