Officials in the western Japanese prefecture of Ehime say three people were confirmed dead after they were found at the site of a landslide in Matsuyama City.
The slope of a mountain, with Matsuyama Castle at its summit, collapsed just before 4 a.m. on Friday, causing mud to enter houses and apartment buildings.
The collapsed area was 50 meters wide and 100 meters high.
Three people, who were living in a wooden house hit by the landslide, remain unaccounted for. They are a man in his 90s, his wife in her 80s and their son in his 40s.
Firefighters and police searched the area and found two men and one woman on Saturday afternoon. They were later confirmed dead.
Police are working to identity them.