{
  "id": 5431324,
  "title": "Beware Landslide Just 10 Minutes After Cracks Appear",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/beware-landslide-just-10-minutes-after-cracks-appear",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:47:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "News On Japan",
    "slug": "news-on-japan",
    "url": "https://newsonjapan.com/article/150621.php"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japan's National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience conducted a landslide experiment to demonstrate the rapid collapse of a rain-soaked slope following visible cracks. Researchers created a 9-meter wide and 7-meter long soil slope and subjected it to rainfall up to 100 millimeters per hour. A large crack emerged about three hours after the experiment began, and the slope collapsed just 10 minutes later. Professor Motoyuki Ushiyama from Shizuoka University emphasized the need for immediate evacuation once signs of danger become apparent, as there is no specific rainfall threshold for landslides due to varying ground conditions. He advised people to check local hazard maps, avoid low-lying areas, and move uphill when possible. The Japan Meteorological Agency's disaster warning system includes red Level 3 warnings for those needing extra evacuation time and purple Level 4 warnings for everyone in a dangerous area to evacuate. A black Level 5 emergency warning indicates a disaster is likely to have already occurred. Residents should monitor the latest disaster information and bear in mind that autumn is the most dangerous season for landslides due to expanding bear populations.",
  "summary": "A disaster prevention experiment has shown how quickly a rain-soaked slope can collapse once visible cracks appear, highlighting the need for people in landslide-prone areas to evacuate before conditions become critical as the risk of disasters remains elevated through early next week. (News On Japan)",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}