Today (11th December) marks 9 months since the great eastern earthquake
that brought unprecendented damage.
In Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata the number of deceased and missing is over
2000. In Ofunato-shi, 76% of the disaster victims are elderly, aged 60
years and above, and particularly, it was discovered that there are a
large number of those in their 80s. In order of those with the most
elderly victims is Ofunato-cho, Sanriku-cho and Okirai. Amongst the
victims were not just those who were late to evacuate, but also a large
number of elderly who thought that they would be safe and chose not to
evacuate.
The number of deceased in Ofunato-shi lies at 339 (as of 10th Decemeber),
and there still remains 94 missing.
The Web News Online Network used the prefectoral police's public
register of identified victims to determine the total number of victims
according to age bracket, sex and town of residence.
In the age bracket division, the largest group was those in their 80s at
111 people (33%), followed by those in their 70s (76 people, 22%), and
lastly, those in their 60s (46 people, 13%). Altogether, those older
than 60 years of age represent 76% of all the victims. Of those younger
than 20 years of age, 8 people were lost in the disaster.
According to sex, there were 187 females and 152 males deceased.
The numbers of victims (including those still missing) by area of
residence is as follows: Ofunato-cho 145 people (42%), Sanriku-cho
Okirai 96 people (28%), Massaki-cho 61 people (18%), Akasaki-cho 60
people (18%), Sanriku-cho Ryouri 26 people (8%), Sakari-cho 17 people
(5%), Ikawa-cho 9 people, Takkon-cho 6 people and Sanriku-cho Yoshihama
1 person.
Of these, there were more than 50 bedridden and wheelchair-confined
elderly in a special aged nursing home who were swallowed by the tsunami
whilst trying to evacuate. There were also a large number of people in
Ofunato-cho who were lost in the tsunami after being stuck in traffic,
evacuating in their cars.
A man (aged 71) from Ofunato-cho Nonoda spoke about the large number of
elderly victims, saying, "many elderly thought that they would be OK and
didn't evacuate, after their past experience with the Chilean tsunami
which didn't flood their homes".
Then there were those victims who, despite reaching safe ground, went
back to retrieve Buddhist memorial tablets and valuables.
It is being pointed out that since the earthquake occured during the
hours that most people were at work, many elderly were left at home with
no means to evacuate. There were also a number of cases where even young
people fell victim to the tsunami whilst helping those in their
neighbourhood or going to meet family.
This disaster has left many lessons to be learnt. On one hand there is
the thorough need for each person to take care of themselves, yet this
disaster also brings into relief the need to rethink how we can help
those who cannot evacuate by themselves and how we can lead the elderly
to shelter.
(TABLE)
Number of Victims in Ofunato-shi by Age (no. people)
Male, Female, Total (%)
Aged 0-9, 2, 1, 3 (1%)
Aged 10-19, 3, 2, 5 (2%)
Aged 20-29, 2, 3, 5 (2%)
Aged 30-39, 10, 5, 15 (4%)
Aged 40-49, 9, 8, 17 (5%)
Aged 50-59, 23, 10, 33 (10%)
Aged 60-69, 23, 23, 46 (13%)
Aged 70-79, 34, 42, 76 (22%)
Aged 80-89, 39, 72, 111 (33%)
Aged 90+, 7, 21, 28 (8%)
Total, 152, 187, 339 (100%)
（Tokai Shinpo 12/12/2011）
that brought unprecendented damage.
In Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata the number of deceased and missing is over
2000. In Ofunato-shi, 76% of the disaster victims are elderly, aged 60
years and above, and particularly, it was discovered that there are a
large number of those in their 80s. In order of those with the most
elderly victims is Ofunato-cho, Sanriku-cho and Okirai. Amongst the
victims were not just those who were late to evacuate, but also a large
number of elderly who thought that they would be safe and chose not to
evacuate.
The number of deceased in Ofunato-shi lies at 339 (as of 10th Decemeber),
and there still remains 94 missing.
The Web News Online Network used the prefectoral police's public
register of identified victims to determine the total number of victims
according to age bracket, sex and town of residence.
In the age bracket division, the largest group was those in their 80s at
111 people (33%), followed by those in their 70s (76 people, 22%), and
lastly, those in their 60s (46 people, 13%). Altogether, those older
than 60 years of age represent 76% of all the victims. Of those younger
than 20 years of age, 8 people were lost in the disaster.
According to sex, there were 187 females and 152 males deceased.
The numbers of victims (including those still missing) by area of
residence is as follows: Ofunato-cho 145 people (42%), Sanriku-cho
Okirai 96 people (28%), Massaki-cho 61 people (18%), Akasaki-cho 60
people (18%), Sanriku-cho Ryouri 26 people (8%), Sakari-cho 17 people
(5%), Ikawa-cho 9 people, Takkon-cho 6 people and Sanriku-cho Yoshihama
1 person.
Of these, there were more than 50 bedridden and wheelchair-confined
elderly in a special aged nursing home who were swallowed by the tsunami
whilst trying to evacuate. There were also a large number of people in
Ofunato-cho who were lost in the tsunami after being stuck in traffic,
evacuating in their cars.
A man (aged 71) from Ofunato-cho Nonoda spoke about the large number of
elderly victims, saying, "many elderly thought that they would be OK and
didn't evacuate, after their past experience with the Chilean tsunami
which didn't flood their homes".
Then there were those victims who, despite reaching safe ground, went
back to retrieve Buddhist memorial tablets and valuables.
It is being pointed out that since the earthquake occured during the
hours that most people were at work, many elderly were left at home with
no means to evacuate. There were also a number of cases where even young
people fell victim to the tsunami whilst helping those in their
neighbourhood or going to meet family.
This disaster has left many lessons to be learnt. On one hand there is
the thorough need for each person to take care of themselves, yet this
disaster also brings into relief the need to rethink how we can help
those who cannot evacuate by themselves and how we can lead the elderly
to shelter.
(TABLE)
Number of Victims in Ofunato-shi by Age (no. people)
Male, Female, Total (%)
Aged 0-9, 2, 1, 3 (1%)
Aged 10-19, 3, 2, 5 (2%)
Aged 20-29, 2, 3, 5 (2%)
Aged 30-39, 10, 5, 15 (4%)
Aged 40-49, 9, 8, 17 (5%)
Aged 50-59, 23, 10, 33 (10%)
Aged 60-69, 23, 23, 46 (13%)
Aged 70-79, 34, 42, 76 (22%)
Aged 80-89, 39, 72, 111 (33%)
Aged 90+, 7, 21, 28 (8%)
Total, 152, 187, 339 (100%)
（Tokai Shinpo 12/12/2011）
