Photos of Damage Caused by the 2011 Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake Behavior of victims as shown in disaster damage photos

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1 Photos of Damage Caused by the 2011 Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake Behavior of victims as shown in disaster damage photos March 16, 2011 Yasuhiro Yoshikawa Researcher, River Engineering Research Team, Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region The author was at Tohoku University in the Kawauchi area of Sendai City s Aoba Ward when the Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake struck, and evacuated to a shelter in the same ward s Tachimachi area. Fortunately, he was able to return home to Sapporo. This photo collection shows actual damage caused by the earthquake in chronological order from when the tremor struck until the departure from the disaster-stricken area. Although the author managed to get home with the kind help of many people despite such a devastating disaster, many in the affected areas are still waiting for aid to arrive. It is assumed that people will be worried about the disaster victims living in these difficult conditions, and the author hopes that this photo collection will be of some help. There are no photos showing scenes from 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on March 12, as the author forgot to carry the camera with him. This period is described in text. The situations vary for each victim, and this photo collection should be viewed as representing the personal experience of the author, who is not a resident of the affected area. pg. 1

2 Around 2:46 p.m. on Friday, March 11: earthquake off the coast of Sanriku Immediately after the quake: 2:50 p.m. 2:52 p.m. on March 11 Great Hall on the 6th floor of the Multimedia Education and Research Complex, Tohoku University When the earthquake hit, the author got under a table and held its legs firmly, remaining patient and silent. Even during the chaos of the shaking, some people in the hall were helping others to shelter under tables. As the earthquake became more violent, the author considered that he might die there, but had no fear. Then, the faces of his family came to mind, and he knew he wanted to live. The earthquake lasted for approximately five minutes. The above photos were taken outside the conference room immediately after the earthquake finished. In the hallway outside the room, what looked like air vent covers were hanging from the ceiling. Air vent covers were hanging from the ceiling (left). The wall between the conference rooms collapsed (right). pg. 2

3 This photo taken from the entrance shows the inside of the conference room. The researchers packed their vital data and other materials into their bags. The tables and chairs, which were previously arranged in an orderly fashion, had moved a lot. Seeing a collapsed building through the conference room s windows brought home just how devastating the earthquake had been (left). The collapsed building was a rooftop facility on the fifth floor of the Kawakita Joint Building (top right photo on page 5). pg. 3

4 A bag of trash fell from a table onto the ground, and the trash was strewn around. According to an eyewitness, paper coffee cups on a table had mysteriously not fallen off. Although some of the cups were thought to have been empty, there was no evidence of spilled coffee from the others. (As the observation was made immediately after the earthquake, the reason for this phenomenon was not confirmed.) Evacuation via the emergency staircase Cracks on the staircase (bottom right photo) pg. 4

5 Moving from the building we were in when the earthquake struck to the parking area: 2:53 p.m. 4:16 p.m. on March 11 People stayed where they were and kept away from buildings (left). The rooftop facility on the fifth floor of the Kawakita Joint Building (right) had collapsed. There was no damage to other buildings nearby. (Photo on the right courtesy of Prof. Atsushi Yoshida at Chiba University) All bicycles in the parking area had fallen over. After the evacuation to the parking area, strong aftershocks frequently shook the ground. During each earthquake, everyone stayed calm and waited for the shaking to finish (left). Some people wore helmets (right). pg. 5

6 It suddenly began to snow (4:16 p.m. on March 11). The snow continued from around 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is unknown whether it was related to the tsunami. From the disaster-stricken area to the evacuation center: 4:18 p.m. 4:40 p.m. on March 11 A local Tohoku University teacher led us to the evacuation center, for which we were very grateful. Due to the cold and snow, our hands became numb. The author prayed for the snow to stop. Many people were heading to the evacuation center (left). From the bridge, it appeared that no buildings in the town had collapsed (right). It could be seen from the bridge that the tsunami surge had not come up the river (right). The Hirose River and the Ohashi Bridge pg. 6

7 The streets were congested with cars. Traffic lights were working properly. Arrival at the evacuation center pg. 7

8 Day 1: At the evacuation center: 4:41 p.m. 9:01 p.m. on March 11 We arrived at the evacuation center. The gymnasium was crowded, and straw mats were laid on the floor. We were told that the mats (which were thought to be for sports day use) had been taken out of the gym s storage room. Gym mats were also used. As ours was a group of 18 people, we were worried about finding space for us. Soon, we were notified that the school s buildings would open, so we went to the second floor of one of them. Only earthquake-resistant classrooms were used no access was allowed to other classrooms. We were anxious about the seismic performance of the hallways when walking in them. Tachimachi Elementary School was used as an evacuation center, and the room we stayed in was the library for the lower grades. pg. 8

9 After nightfall, an open fire was built in the school playground, and many people gathered around it to warm themselves. This photo was taken at around 9:00 p.m. It was reported that tables and chairs in the elementary school were burnt to make the fire. At night, we slept on the second floor of the school building. We were lucky that straw mats had been spread on the floor these helped to keep us comfortable. It seemed much colder in classrooms without mats, where corrugated cardboard was laid instead. We learned later that the members who were with us had looked for a room with mats. We slept head to foot without blankets, each of us spreading and covering ourselves with large blue plastic sheets (probably intended for sports day use). If we covered ourselves only up to the neck as we do with blankets, our body heat was lost to the drafts that blew between us. Everyone soon realized this and covered themselves completely, including their faces, with the sheets. There were approximately 40 people in the room. Whenever someone rolled over, it made a loud rustling sound. We could not sleep well because large and small aftershocks continued, each making us fear for our safety. When a relatively large tremor hit, we got up, but all we could do was wait for it to end. The author felt seasick. pg. 9

10 Day 2: Disaster damage near the evacuation center: 5:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. on March 12 The reporting for this period is text-only, as the camera was forgotten. The author woke up early at 5:30 a.m. and was unable to get back to sleep, so headed to Sendai Station to check the condition of the area near the evacuation center. A few vehicles were running, but there were no pedestrians. No collapsed buildings were seen along the town s shopping arcades. The JR train and subway lines and convenience stores were all closed, but some convenience stores opened as the morning went on. pg. 10

11 Day 2: Disaster damage near the evacuation center: 8:00 a.m. 12:46 p.m. on March 12 Upon returning to the evacuation center, the author saw a long line of people waiting for food in the school playground. The food was served by elementary school teachers and volunteers from among those staying at the evacuation center. Seaweed rice was provided, with priority being given to children. The author was happy to have a warm meal for the first time since the quake. Cars were parked in the school playground (left). The fuel used for cooking was wood from furnishings in the school (right). pg. 11

12 Newspapers were an important source of information for us, as we had no radio (left). Convenience stores were essential places to secure food (right). It looked like the food would run out quickly, as people bought it up all at once. It was thought that windows were covered with corrugated cardboard and blue plastic sheeting to prevent falling glass (left) in consideration of the safety of pedestrians. A number of fire engines were mobilized (right). Some old buildings partially collapsed, but most of them stood firm. pg. 12

13 This generator for traffic lights was working (left). Broken windows were covered with corrugated cardboard (right). A notice posted at the bus center (left) announced that bus services had been suspended. A restaurant provided meals free of charge (right). At the bus center, a customer was yelling at the staff there. The author was surprised at this scene, but understood that the customer had been thrown into a panic by this incredibly difficult situation. Several restaurants offered meals free of charge, all of them with good intentions. pg. 13

14 Traffic was controlled by an official at a point where the traffic lights were out (left). A building with broken windows was seen (right). Another building with a broken window was seen (left). Wall surface panels fell off, but this wall did not collapse (right). Lines formed in front of stores at a shopping arcade. Even under these difficult circumstances, everyone was calm as usual. There was a true spirit of Japan in the air. pg. 14

15 Some convenience stores were closed for obvious reasons (left). Books were scattered on the floor in a downtown bookstore (right). A store opened to offer commodities despite the difficult conditions (left). The corrugated cardboard here seemed to be covering broken glass (right). pg. 15

16 People used free public phones (left). Long lines of shoppers formed (right). One store offered oranges and other items for 100 yen each, and limited purchases to 500 yen per person so that everyone could buy some. A line formed and the waiting time was long, but no one complained, protested loudly or yelled. Another long line of shoppers. It seems that this store took the same measures as the one above. pg. 16

17 People used free public phones (left). At this restaurant (right), staff served meals free of charge with a smile. The station was closed (left). Water was available from a faucet in a park (right). This sidewalk caved in, but no cave-ins were found in other areas. pg. 17

18 Assistance was provided by the Self-Defense Forces. It was 12:44 p.m., 22 hours after the massive earthquake, when we saw a TV program for the first time since the tremor. pg. 18

19 Day 2: Disaster damage near the evacuation center: 12:55 p.m. 5:17 p.m. on March 12 A mobile phone charging service provided by a mobile phone company was very helpful. A disaster relief vehicle from the Yamanashi Prefecture Chapter of the Japanese Red Cross (left) and a number of Self-Defense Force vehicles (right) provided aid. They were very quick to arrive. These photos were taken near the prefectural government office. Evacuees in the prefectural government office (left) and notices about transport services posted in the office (right) pg. 19

20 Notices posted in the prefectural government office: disaster damage information (left) and transport information (right) This information was helpful, as it was unavailable at the evacuation center. People waiting in front of a blanket return box (left). Damage inside a store (right). pg. 20

21 A restaurant remaining open after the quake was helpful (left). A pillar of an old building collapsed (right). One of the stone-carved guardian dogs at the gate of a Shinto shrine had faced left before the quake, but it had rotated 180 degrees to face right afterward. Sakuraoka Daijingu Shrine located in Nishi Park (Photos courtesy of Prof. Atsushi Yoshida at Chiba University) pg. 21

22 A collapsed stone lantern at the shrine (Photos courtesy of Prof. Atsushi Yoshida at Chiba University) Inside the evacuation center Purchased food (left) and temporary toilets (right) The food shown in the photo on the left was for 18 people. Inside the evacuation center (5:12 p.m. on March 12) pg. 22

23 Inside the evacuation center (5:12 p.m. on March 12) We were grateful for the food (biscuits) distributed that evening. pg. 23

24 Day 2: Moving from the disaster-stricken area: 5:35 p.m. 10:35 p.m. on March 12 Leaving for Sendai Station after hearing that buses were running Remarkably, many buildings had survived the devastating earthquake (left). Sendai Station was closed (right). A displaced sidewalk in front of Sendai Station pg. 24

25 We finally managed to board a bus after waiting for three hours at the bus stop (8:59 p.m. on March 12). There were several hundred people waiting behind us. Some of them may have spent a very cold night at the bus stop. On the bus, all seats (including auxiliary ones) were occupied (right). At 8:25 p.m. on March 12, we arrived in Yamagata (left) and stayed at the Sendaiya Inn (right). We were grateful to the staff for their kindness in preparing a bath for us at very short notice and making coffee in the morning. pg. 25

26 Day 3: Moving away from the disaster-stricken area: 7:22 a.m. 2:41 p.m. on March 12 We slept on futons (left) and learned that JR services at Yamagata Station were cancelled all day (right). Helpful information on how to get to the nearby emergency shelter, a map of JR train services provided by JR East and detailed information on JR services were posted at Yamagata Station. Information on bus services (left). All lockers were out of service (right). A person thought to be in charge of the lockers had a crowbar, and asked if anyone was having problems opening a locker. pg. 26

27 We took a bus from Yamagata Station to Tsuruoka Station and then a JR train from Tsuruoka Station to Niigata Station. There were lots of people at Tsuruoka Station, and the train was full. We had to stand on the train from 12:40 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. After getting off the train from Tsuruoka Station at Niigata Station, we walked quickly. People there looked relieved. From Niigata Station, we took a bus bound for Niigata Airport. Day 3: Moving away from the disaster-stricken area: 5:23 p.m. on March 13 There were no crowds at Niigata Airport, which had a relaxed atmosphere. We flew from there to New Chitose Airport. We sincerely appreciate the support we received from many people to help us get home. pg. 27