Grief still raw five years after Japan’s quake, tsunami disaster

[yuiyoshida]

SENDAI/MORIOKA, IWATE PREF. – As the sun rose Friday on areas of northeastern Japan still struggling from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11, 2011, people gathered to remember their lost loved ones and reflect on their grief five years after the disaster.

The magnitude-9 quake, ensuing tsunami and aftermath left 19,304 people dead and 2,561 missing and presumed dead, according to the National Police Agency’s latest figures as of Thursday.

In the Arahama area of Sendai, concrete slabs are all that remain of the homes that once stood along the seaside.

Among those laying flowers at a cenotaph in Arahama was Toshihiko Daigaku, 61, who lost his wife, parents, elder brother and a nephew to the tsunami.

“I’m still getting by thanks to my ties with other people and the children,” Daigaku said, having prayed for his lost relatives’ souls to be at rest.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/11/national/grief-still-raw-five-years-japans-quake-tsunami-disaster/

[mountain grammy]

1. Devastating.. and Fukushima residents will probably never go home.

Terrible situation..

[FLPanhandle]

2. I hope they don't rebuild in the low laying areas again.

Another earthquake and tsunami will happen again. It's a matter of time.