Melted snow likely cause of northeastern Japan landslide: expert

Melted snow permeating the soil of a mountain was likely the cause of a landslide in northeastern Japan last week that left two dead, according to an expert who conducted an on-site probe.Hiroshi Yagi, professor emeritus of geomorphology at Yamagata University, also called Thursday for caution about lifting evacuation orders for residents of Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture, citing the risk of further disasters given the snowfall in December.The survey, joined by prefectural and municipal governments, confirmed that subsoil on the mountain has weathered and loosened over time, making it easi…READ FULL ARTICLE