BOSAI: Science that Can Save Your Life

Episode Synopsis

In April 2018, a landslide occurred on a hill behind houses in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture. The landslide moved sediment over a width of more than 100 meters, completely destroying four houses and killing six people. Landslide hazard areas are found throughout Japan, and the total number of landslide hazard areas is approximately 680,000. Why do landslides occur? Experts believe they are often triggered by heavy rainfall. In this episode, we'll look at the mechanism behind landslides and the latest research on reducing their damage.