Regarding why it took so long to find the wreckage . . .
“The area, designated as a zone at risk of secondary disasters, was exempted from search activities on May 1, with the sole exception of a single day search in June, Kumamoto prefectural representatives said.”
The article also says “No human remains were found in the crushed yellow Toyota car” but I think that is misleading. Other reports I have seen have indicated that the car will need to be pulled out from between the rocks in order to examine the interior. So, unless I am mistaken, at this point no one knows whether or not there are human remains in the car.
– Kirk