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Death toll in Hiroshima landslide rises to 18

Thirteen people are reported missing after heavy rains triggered a massive landslide in the city of Hiroshima

TOKYO, August 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Torrential rains triggered a landslide in the city of Hiroshma in Japan's south-west on Wednesday. According to the latest data given by the NHK TV channel, the number of victims of the natural disaster has risen to 18, and 13 people are listed as missing.

In view of the emergency situation in Hiroshima, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had to interrupt his vacation and return to Tokyo. He assigned respective agencies to do everything necessary to rescue people trapped under the debris and provide shelters for those who have been rendered homeless. Several hundreds of rescuers have been sent to the landslide-affected area.

According to the city's Fire Department, the landslide, caused by heavy rains, which continued since Tuesday evening and throughout the night, damaged residential buildings in several areas of Hiroshima stretching for 15 km along the Nenotanigawa River.