Peace Winds Search-and-Rescue Team Responds to Oita, Japan Landslide

On April 11-12, Peace Winds Japan’s search-and-rescue team responded to an early morning landslide in a small village outside of Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture.  There had been no rain for days and the area showed no signs of instability.  The landslide area was over 200 meters wide and affected several houses in the area, even completely burying some.  Several households evacuated and were confirmed safe by first response teams. Peace Winds Japan dispatched ten rescue teams and three rescue dogs to search for missing people following the landslide.

The Peace Winds rescue team cooperated with the local fire department, police, Self Defense Force, and other first responders.  The team and dogs searched in three affected areas for survivors, recovering the body of a man on the first day.

The search team continued working throughout the day and into the night, alternating between on-the-ground search efforts and removing debris.  The PWJ team performed another search early on April 12, recovering the body of a female victim.

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