広島ひろしま土砂どしゃ災害さいがいから11年じゅういちねん大おおきな被害ひがいあった安佐南あさみなみ区くで追悼ついとうの催もよおし

August 20 marks 11 years since the landslide disaster in Hiroshima City that claimed 77 lives.

In Asaminami Ward, which suffered extensive damage, a memorial event for those who lost their lives was held from the early hours of the morning.

In the Hiroshima City landslide disaster on August 20, 2014, heavy localized rainfall caused debris flows and landslides at 166 locations in the city, resulting in the deaths of 77 people, including disaster-related fatalities.

Of these, in Yagi 3-chome, Asaminami Ward, where more than 40 people lost their lives, the neighborhood association president and volunteers held a memorial event from around midnight, close to the time the disaster occurred, and about 200 lanterns were placed in front of the memorial monument.

When the lanterns were lit, messages such as “I want to make this a fun town full of smiles” and “I want to pass on the importance of disaster prevention to the next generation,” written by local residents, appeared along with the numbers “8/20.”

The bereaved families who visited quietly put their hands together in silent prayer at the signal, after lining up photos of their deceased loved ones in front of the memorial, offering flowers and incense.

Mr. Kazuo Zaibara, the head of the neighborhood association, said, I prayed while remembering things like playing and drinking with the person who passed away.

In the event of a disaster, we will evacuate early and keep in touch with everyone to ensure our safety, they said.

At Bairin Elementary School in Asaminami Ward, one of the areas that suffered the most damage, there is a memorial monument engraved with the names of 68 victims from the school district who lost their lives, and a flower offering stand was set up in front of it from the morning of the 20th.

The bereaved families and local residents who visited paid their respects by offering flowers and joining their hands in prayer.

An 88-year-old man who lost his brother and sister-in-law said, Every New Years, our families would get together at my brothers house and spend a joyful time together.

Every year when I see the memorial, I remember what happened back then.

I told my brother in my heart that I want him to watch over the family weve left behind, he said.

Mr. Ken Matsui from the local voluntary disaster prevention organization, who set up the flower offering stand, said, For the past ten years until last year, it was difficult just to get our own lives in order, but from now on, we need to share our experiences so that they can be passed on and learned from.

We want to tell those who have passed away that we are all studying together so that there will be no more victims, they said.