One Month After Deadly Miyazaki Mudslide


One month after deadly Miyazaki mudslide

It has been one month since a deadly mudslide, triggered by a typhoon, hit a village in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

The mudslide in Shiiba Village occurred on September 6, as Typhoon Haishen was approaching Japan. The mudslide swept away the home of the construction company owner, Aioi Hideki, and the company office.

Vietnamese technical trainee Nguyen Huu Toan was killed. Another trainee, Tran Cong Long, Aioi's wife Katsuko and their son, Yasutaka, remain missing.

On Tuesday, as on previous days, a steady stream of people left flowers at a memorial set up across the river of the accident site.

The company staff are continuing the search for the missing while also maintaining the business.

The 70-year-old owner Aioi, who was injured in the accident, thanked his employees for their search efforts at the company's morning meeting on Tuesday. After offering a silent prayer they set off for the day's search.

Aioi said he has felt anxious and has not been able to sleep well since the disaster as his wife and son and the trainee, whom he thought of as another son, have not yet to be found.

Referring to the trainees, he said he feels sorry for them, adding that with their new job skills they would have been able to help their village.