Iwate moving toward reconstruction (Ver.5)
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami occurred twelve years ago on March 11, 2011. As a result, including aftershocks and other disaster-related fatalities mainly in the coastal regions, 5,145 precious lives were lost in Iwate Prefecture. Even to this day, 1,110 people are still missing.
Iwate Prefecture has made a concerted effort to recover from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, with the aim of “making the homeland of Iwate and Sanriku a place where life is protected and people live in harmony with the land and the sea”. During this period, they have received a great deal of assistance from all over Japan and abroad, and have been supported by the local and international ties.
Over the past twelve years, the reconstruction of old roads and the construction of new roads has created a new road network that brings better accessibility to the prefecture. Tsunami disaster prevention infrastructures such as tidal walls are also being constructed, many of which have been completed. As well as focusing on the remaining development of social infrastructure, they continue to work on measures that take into account the current conditions of the affected areas, including mental health care for disaster victims, support for the formation of new communities, measures to prevent low catch rates of major fish species, restoration of sales channels for commercial industries, and securement of human resources, particularly for the fishing industry, while supporting each and every disaster victim. They continue to promote "Build Back Better" under the philosophy of “No one is le‑ behind”.
In accordance with the Day for Passing on Stories of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami ordinance, they continue to pass on and disseminate information about the disaster and recovery efforts, and contribute to improving disaster preparedness domestically and internationally, mainly through the Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum. They also work with the municipalities and draw on the lessons learned from past disasters to further develop tsunami disaster prevention measures in the event of a "huge earthquake along the Japan Trench or the Kuril Islands Trench," which is expected to occur in the future.
In March 2023, Iwate Prefecture formulated the Reconstruction Promotion Plan (FY2023-FY2026), the second phase action plan of the Iwate Prefecture Citizens' Plan (2019-2028). rough the implementation of this plan, they continue to aim to build a new sustainable Sanriku region where all generations can live with hope and vigor.
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