OSAKA, Aug. 26 -- The death toll from massive mudslides caused by heavy rain in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan reached 63 while 25 others remained missing as the search and rescue operation entered its seventh day on Tuesday, local press reported.

Three more people were confirmed dead Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 63, the report said, quoting the Hiroshima prefectural police.

A week after torrential rains triggered the mountainside disaster, rescuers, including police officers, firefighters and Self-Defense Forces personnel, still faced difficulties, with their search efforts interrupted from time to time due to fears of further mudslides caused by rain.

Hiroshima was hit by torrential rain in the early hours of last Wednesday with more than 100 millimeters of rain per hour recorded, triggering more than 50 mudslides which buried and washed away houses and apartments in Asaminami and Asakita wards, trapping many who had remained in their homes.