Okushiri Tsunami 1993-1999

- disaster and reconstruction -

Asian Disaster Reduction Center

Taichi Kusaka

5.5m sea wallSea urchin monument

Nabetsuru Rock

Okushiri Island

FisheryFishery

TourismTourism

Main Industries are:

Multiple Disasters1. Earthquake1. Earthquake

2. Tsunami2. Tsunami

3. Fires3. Fires

Facts• 12 July 1993• Magnitude of the earthquake: M 7.8• Maximum wave height: 31m• Fatalities: 239 (198 in Okushiri)• Fire and landslide as secondary disaster• Tsunami arrival: 2 - 3 minutes (Inaho) 5 minutes

(Aonae)

Inaho Memorial

Tsunami - the largest destructive force

Inaho was hit 2-3 minutes after quake.Inaho was hit 2-3 minutes after quake.

2-3 minutes2-3 minutes

at Inahoat Inaho

5 minutes5 minutes

at Aonaeat Aonae

ReconstructedInaho

Hatsumatsumae

Inaho District

Grandmother and the elder grand daughter were saved on the upper floor. The mother and the younger daughter lost their lives on the ground floor.

No house was safe.

School

Aonae District

At 7 am 13 July 1993, Kyodo

Tsunami and fires devastated this fishermen’s town.

Tsunami Tsunami

Tsunami Tsunami

Tsunami Tsunami

Tsunami Tsunami

Three ways to escape?

Many who tried to escape by car died. Others on higher

ground were saved.

• Awareness– Risk Areas,

Pamphlets– Evacuation Routes– Memorials and

Museum

• Facilities– Communications– Shelters, Sea walls

and tide gates

Countermeasures in Okushiri

Radio terminalRadio terminal

23.3 meters11.7m

Risk AreasFrom tsunami recordsFrom tsunami records

Evacuation Routes

Solar-powered sign post

Safety Area Sign

Memorials

and MuseumTsunami Museum opens in 2000Tsunami Museum opens in 2000Please remember...Please remember...

All the names are here...All the names are here...Granite stone monumentGranite stone monument

Communications

24 hours a day24 hours a day365 days a year365 days a year

Radio Communications Radio Communications Center at Okushiri Town Center at Okushiri Town OfficeOffice

Hokkaido Satellite NetworkHokkaido Satellite Network

Mobile CommunicatorsMobile Communicators

Tide gatesAonae Elementary School

and Sea Walls

Shelters

Waves Piloti

Rest in peace.People remember 12 July 1993and are better prepared now.

Beyond time and space...