The Kamaishi Municipal Government in Iwate Prefecture revealed on Monday that it will demolish the Unosumai Chiku Bosai Center as soon as possible. The shelter was used by 244 residents as an evacuation centre during the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Unfortunately, 210 lost their lives while taking shelter at the centre. Bereaved families consider the centre a sorrowful reminder of what happened two years ago, thus requesting for its disappearance.
Local residents were divided as whether to keep or demolish the centre. The local government’s decision on Monday was made based on a survey conducted by a liaison council. The survey revealed that more people want to have the Unosumai Chiku Bosai Center demolished compared to those who prefer to keep it standing. “While some argued that the facility should be preserved as a lesson from the disaster, we reached a decision to respect the will of the bereaved families,” said Kamaishi Mayor Takenori Noda.
The local government also claimed accountability for what happened to more than 200 residents. “The city is partly responsible for the loss of so many precious lives at a municipal facility, and I feel sorry for that,” Noda admitted. The demolition request sent to Noda expressed permission to carry out the task as soon as possible. The centre will then be dismantled as early as October.
[via Mainichi]