A memorial service has been held in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, to remember the victims of a deadly mudslide that occurred three years ago.
The massive mudslide triggered by the collapse of illegally created soil mounds struck the Izusan district on July 3, 2021. The disaster left 28 people dead.
The victims' names were read out during the ceremony held at an elementary school in the district on Wednesday.
Nearly 70 attendees, including victims' relatives and government officials, observed a moment of silence.
Atami Mayor Saito Sakae said three years have passed since the disaster, but the sorrow of people who lost their family members and friends will never end.
He said the affected areas have slowly started to recover since the lifting of their designation as a danger zone last September. He added that city officials will listen to the public's views and steadily carry out reconstruction projects to help everyone regain their peaceful lives as soon as possible.
Shizuoka Governor Suzuki Yasutomo said prefectural and city officials will do all they can to rebuild the Izusan district and the lives of people affected by the disaster. He expressed his intention to firmly address inappropriately piling up soil.
Afterward, the participants offered flowers and prayers.
Areas along the river where the mudslide occurred were designated as a danger zone after the disaster, and access was prohibited. But the designation was lifted last September.
Atami officials say that of the 158 households that initially evacuated from the area, only 22, or 14 percent, had returned as of the end of last month.
More than 100 households have rebuilt their lives in other places.