A break in the weather allowed more than 3,000 rescuers and volunteers to boost efforts to remove mud and debris in search of landslide survivors in western Japan, reports said Saturday, according to dpa.
Heavy rain had suspended search operations repeatedly in Hiroshima city, 700 kilometres south-west of Tokyo, three days after landslides left 42 dead and 43 missing.
Police said the number of those unaccounted for could rise, the Kyodo News agency reported.
More than 2,400 residents in the northern part of the city took refuge at emergency shelters as authorities issued evacuation orders for some areas.
The confirmed death toll reached 42 with dozens injured after torrential rain triggered mudslides in more than 50 spots on the outskirts of the city early Wednesday.