- Title: JAPAN: Tono City officials observe silence in memory of quake and tsunami vicitms
- Date: 19th March 2011
- Summary: TONO, IWATE PREFECTURE, JAPAN (MARCH 18, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STREET IN TONO JAPANESE NATIONAL FLAG VARIOUS OF TONO CITY OFFICIALS BOWING THEIR HEAD IN MINUTE OF SILENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TONO CITY MAYOR TOSHIAKI HONDA SAYING: "On March 11, 2:46, the earthquake occurred, followed by a gigantic tsunami, so we offered prayers for the victims at the exact same time." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 51-YEAR-OLD TONO MUNICIPAL OFFICE EMPLOYEE RURIKO OKUDERA SAYING: "Looking at footage on TV of people who have evacuated, I can sense that everyone is trying to cope from breaking into tears. Everyone is sharing their feelings and I hope to do the best we can. No matter how far we may be away from them, I hope they will understand that we are with them to help in recovering from the situation." VARIOUS OF JAPANESE SELF-DEFENSE FORCES HELICOPTER ASCENDING JAPANESE SELF-DEFENSE FORCES HELICOPTER ASCENDING
- Embargoed: 3rd April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan, Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA7Y9F8P7DPW25L7I1DBEV4ECR3
- Story Text: Tono's city officials held a minute of silence at 2.46 p.m. (0546 GMT) on Friday (March 18) in memory of the victims of the massive earthquake, which struck northeast Japan exactly a week earlier, and tsunami that engulfed coastal towns.
The officials paused at work and bowed for the minute of silence, held exactly a week after the calamity.
"On March 11, 2:46, the earthquake occurred, followed by a gigantic tsunami, so we offered prayers for the victims at the exact same time," said Tono City mayor Toshiaki Honda.
The city, which lies in the center of Iwate prefecture is providing shelter for thousands of evacuees.
Iwate Prefecture has reported 1,907 people dead and 4,253 missing.
One municipal employee said they sympathised with the victims.
"Looking at footage on TV of people who have evacuated, I can sense that everyone is trying to cope from breaking into tears. Everyone is sharing their feelings and I hope to do the best we can. No matter how far we may be away from them, I hope they will understand that we are with them to help in recovering from the situation," said 51-year old Tono municipal office employee, Ruriko Okudera.
The Self Defence Forces has set up a rendezvous point in Tono City for refueling helicopters.
The death toll from the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami has reached 6,405 and 10,259 are still missing, the national police agency said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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