*****NHK******

Landslide lake in western Japan overflowing

A river in western Japan that was dammed up by a tropical storm last month is overflowing. The land ministry is calling on municipalities downstream to stay alert for the possibility of mudslides.

The ministry says the overflow from the lake created in September by a landslide in Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, was spotted by observers in a helicopter on Sunday morning.

It says muddy water is flowing into the lower stream through a newly formed ditch about 5 meters wide.

Rain started on Friday in the area, with the rainfall reaching 41 millimeters during the 24 hours through 4 AM on Sunday. The rain has since stopped.

The water flow does not contain sand and rocks that could cause damage. But the ministry is warning of a possible mudslide in the area, saying the mud that has blocked the river could break and pour downstream in a burst.

Two municipalities downstream -- Gojo City and Totsukawa Village -- have designated areas that could suffer mud or flood damage as evacuation zones. People living there have already been evacuated.

Sunday, October 16, 2011 12:43 +0900 (JST)