Ceremonies Held To Mark 4 Years Since Rain Disaster In Western Japan
People in parts of western Japan devastated by torrential rains four years ago remembered the victims of the disaster in ceremonies held on Wednesday.
Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture was one of the hardest-hit areas, with 75 people killed. The city held a memorial ceremony in Mabi Town, which suffered extensive damage in the disaster. About 60 people took part.
Hiramatsu Yorio, who lost his mother, spoke as a representative of the bereaved families.
He said he still regrets not having been able to urge his mother to evacuate earlier. But he added that his 87- year-old mother taught him how important it is to evacuate early to protect lives.
In Kure City in the neighboring prefecture of Hiroshima, people visited the municipal hall to lay flowers to remember the victims.
One person said the events of that time are still seared in their memory and urged people not to forget that a similar disaster could happen again.
The heavy rains in July 2018 triggered mudslides and flooding that claimed the lives of 282 people in Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi and Ehime prefectures, including those who died afterward from disaster-related causes. Some people remain unaccounted for.
Reconstruction work including rebuilding of homes remains a challenge.
About 90 people are staying in temporary housing in Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures.
In Ehime Prefecture, all those remaining in temporary housing are expected to move out by the end of this month. But as of the end of last month, 25 people in two cities were living in private rental housing provided by local governments.