CNN, Tokyo :
The death toll from landslides in Hiroshima, Japan, rose to 50 on Sunday, and 38 more people were reported missing, according to Kyodo news agency.
Rains triggered massive slides Wednesday that swallowed up dozens of homes and sent residents digging in the heavy debris looking for loved ones-some with their bare hands. A resident of the Asakita Ward, one of the hardest-hit areas, described roads as resembling rivers.
A record 9.5 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period earlier in the week, the Kyodo news agency said. More rain came on Sunday, causing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to call off a planned visit.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui acknowledged evacuation advisories came late, Kyodo reported. Matsui said city officials will investigate how they can improve.
