Photo/Illutration Evacuees from the July 3 landslide return home on a temporary visit to retrieve valuables and daily necessities on July 12 in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. (Roppei Tsuda)

ATAMI, Shizuoka Prefecture--For the first time in more than a week, evacuees from the massive landslide here were allowed to briefly return home on July 12 to retrieve cash and other personal belongings. 

Search-and-rescue efforts for 18 missing people are continuing in the Izusan district of this coastal city, restricting residents' access to the affected area.

However, city officials are allowing evacuees to return home temporarily between July 12 and July 14 to gather up valuables and other items needed to start rebuilding their lives.

After 9 a.m. on July 12, about 10 residents arrived in the stricken area on a bus arranged by the city government. After disembarking the bus, each person, wearing an armband emblazed with “Atami,” headed to their respective homes.

As of July 11, more than 500 people were evacuating at makeshift shelters after the landslide cascaded down on homes in the district on the morning of July 3 following heavy rains in the days prior.

Ten people were killed and about 130 buildings were destroyed or damaged in the disaster.

Search-and-rescue crews temporarily halted their efforts in the district to secure the safety of evacuees while they are visiting their homes.

Up to two persons from the same household are being allowed to return home and can remain there for no more than two hours, according to city officials. The city government is limiting the number of evacuees temporarily returning home to 120 or so a day.

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