The town of Shizugawa in Minamisanriku-cho, Miyagi prefecture was hit by a tsunami, which caused severe damage, 30 minutes after the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake. The height of the tsunami was approximately 14 to 15 meters, and run-up elevations in the area were 15 to 20 meters. Three days after the earthquake, when this photograph was taken, the actual damage and losses had not yet been estimated. Therefore, the aerial photograph represents the extent of damage immediately after the disaster. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the final death toll was 619, and 219 persons were reported missing in Minamisanriku-cho, as of March 7, 2014. We express our deepest sympathy to all those who suffered from the earthquake.
(Explanation: Yasuhiro SUZUKI)
