| You people must be starved of news! See below:-
AP 31 Jan 95 0:32 EST V0990
Copyright 1995. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
NISHINOMIYA, Japan (AP) -- Two weeks after a quake killed more than
5,000 people, Japan's emperor and empress paid a one-day visit Tuesday
to the devastated quake zone, clasping hands with survivors living in
shelters. Some refugees wept as they spoke with the royal couple.
"You've suffered a great deal," Emperor Akihito said at his first stop,
a gymnasium-turned-shelter outside the hard-hit city of Kobe. "Please
take good care of yourselves."
Clad in a ski jacket and a turtleneck, the emperor walked among the
survivors, shaking hands with some and exchanging a few words with
others.
"Please hold onto your hope," Empress Michiko told the crowd.
At an elementary school packed with refugees, the emperor knelt on the
floor among folded mattresses to speak with one family. They bowed
deeply and repeatedly to him, and he inclined his head as he listened.
Spontaneous contact with ordinary Japanese citizens is relatively rare
for the imperial couple, who spend most of their time at highly
orchestrated ceremonial events or cloistered in the palace.
One quake victim said she felt gratified by the visit, and was thrilled
when the empress touched her hand. "I feel overwhelmed," she said.
"That gave me courage to do my best to get over this hardship."
The imperial couple was spending eight hours in the quake zone,
shuttling by helicopter and motorcade to 13 sites. More than a
quarter-million quake refugees are living in shelters set up in
gymnasiums, schools and other buildings.
In a country where the royal family usually receives velvet-glove
treatment from the media, not much open criticism has been heard about
the timing of the emperor's trip -- two weeks after Japan's worst
quake in more than 70 years.
A speedy visit would have been a break with precedent, though. The
emperor took more than two weeks to visit northern Okushiri Island in
1993 after an earthquake-triggered tidal wave claimed more than 200
lives there.
In general, Japan's bureaucracy was slow to recognize the seriousness
of the Jan. 17 quake, and the Imperial Household Agency, which runs
the royal family's affairs, might have also underestimated the scope
of the disaster.
The palace dispatched Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako
on a Middle East tour three days after the quake. Following oblique
criticism, the pair cut short their trip and returned to Japan.
And the emperor's visit was scheduled only after reports said Britain's
Princess Diana wanted to visit the quake zone next week.
It wasn't known whether the palace was worried about the emperor's
visit being greeted with indifference or even hostility. When Prime
Minister Tomiichi Murayama visited Kobe two days after the quake,
television showed some quake refugees shouting angrily at him.
Japan's public television NHK, which has had extensive live coverage
from the quake zone during the past two weeks, did not carry the
emperor's arrival live. Network executives said this was because the
visit did not coincide with any regular news programming.
And the imperial visit generated little excitement in advance among
quake refugees, who are coping with daily discomfort in the shelters.
"It may make some people here happy, but I'm too busy just getting by
day to day," said shivering shelter resident Chieko Komura. The
temperature had plunged to just below freezing overnight and it was
snowing Tuesday in the quake zone.
The death toll stood at 5,096 on Tuesday. Thirteen people were still
missing, and 26,801 people were injured. More aftershocks rattled the
region Tuesday, including one with a magnitude of 3.7.
Officials in Hyogo Prefecture, the region that includes the worst-hit
areas, estimated that it will cost $85.5 billion to repair damage from
the 7.2-magnitude quake. The earthquake destroyed or damaged nearly
90,000 buildings.
The government said it will increase its target for temporary housing
from 19,000 to 30,000 units, but that's still far from enough.
In Kobe, construction crews continued putting the city's infrastructure
back together -- piece by piece. On Monday, a train line from Kobe's
western outskirts into the center of town started running. Officials
expected it would take five or six months to get the entire railway
network running.
"Our biggest concern now is that people will lose hope," said Isao
Sakamoto, the city official responsible for one of the shelters in
Nishinomiya. "The emperor's visit may help boost morale."
|
| A week from the earthquake
[The day of earthquake]
The severe earthquake hit the cities of Osaka and Kobe in the pre-dawn
hours of Junuary 17. Although my house in Osaka is the apartment on the
third floor and the damage was less, I covered my children from the shake
like pushing up and the rolling after it. Then I waited for the shake to
stop.
However I turned on television to confirm the circumstances, the detail
was not clear before dawn. When I changed the channel from NHK to a commer-
cial TV station, maybe at about eight o'clock in the morning, an anchorman
told that the elebated part of Hanshin Highway fell down. Although I thought
that it was stupid to inform us such a thing without exact confirmation, as
time passed, the damage was getting worse.
I called people who live in Kobe using the address book for new year's
card at home, however I was not able to get through to them. Only one or
two people were confirmed to be safe. Before noon, I arrived at Nichimen
building, Osaka office of DEC-J by Keihan railway, which was running.
I went up the emergency stairs due to the stop of elevators. The wall
of emergency stairs fell to pieces. Wet stairs made me slipped due to leak-
age of water on the twelfth floor. I climbed to the eighth floor thinking
that my life would come to an end if stairs collapsed.
There were a few members when I entered my office, so we divided the work
among ourselves to arrange our room. All drawers of desks were drawn like a
scene in film, the documents fell off desks. Some displays fell to the floor
and some panels fell down. Some windows remained opened and it is impossible
to close them. As a result of the confirmation by telephone to Higobashi
office of DEC-J, mutual situation was likely. I heard that the big bookshelf
fell down in HUB.
Some people called us as follows: "As my home is not available so I can't
go to office for the present, I will call you again." " I will take long days
off because I do not know what we should do for confused rooms."
Although we tried calling the remainder, it was impossible. We heard
that public telephones made us easy to get through to people in Kobe district.
Actually, we could confirm the safety of a few people newly using the public
telephone on the seventh floor.
At last, the safe of all staff in the department that I belong to was
confirmed on January 18. (88 members and 24 members of them live in Kobe
district.)
[Supplying the emergency goods after a few days]
Volunteers in our company planned to deliver goods to suffered staff.
People who had delivered goods upon occurance of earthquake took a leading
part to arrange the requirements of suffered people. At first, gathering
goods for aid was made and next, volunteers for carrying goods were collected.
In response of this appeal, much cooperative answer was given to us.
Although we refused most of their offer for our reason, we greatly appreciate
it.
Described below are goods for aid:
We divided into four groups to gather goods in Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and
Nagoya. Staff in Nagoya took the time to deliver goods to Osaka because it
was difficult to get such goods in the Kansai district. We are very grateful
for this warm treatment. The gas cylinders for portable cookstove were sold
out in Nara and Kyoto. We asked families of our staff to look for them near
their houses, at last we got them in Matsubara-city. They were carried to
Nichimen building by a car. It was ten o'clock in the afternoon that the pre-
paration was almost completed.
Unfortunately, we were not able to get plastic tanks (for 18 liter), so
we took buckets instead.
* Electric kettle * Electric pan/Electromagnetic cooker
* Portable cookstove * Gas sylinder for portable cookstove
* Lantern * Battery
* Plastic tank (for 18 liter) * Bucket
* Cart * Mineral water
* Wet tissue * Tissue
* Sanitary goods * Sticking tape, rope
* Canned food * Eggs, vegetables such as a cabbage,
* Precooked food fruits
(for mountain climbing, for general)
Electric kettle was more useful than expected, because hot drink was made
easily due to speedy restoration of electricity. After finishing our help,
people served hot coffee to us using water boiled by the electrical kettle.
Also hot plate is convenient, however many people have already had it.
Sticking tape would be very available for the doorframe, the windowframe
and the front door which could not be closed in order to protect people from
cold wind if houses were not completely destroyed.
For your reference, please note that the following goods are available:
* Large vinyl sheet --- It is used to cover the roof that tiles fall down.
* Metal fittings ------ In case that the door and frame are not closed
and they remain opened, metal fittings to lock
them will be required for safety.
* Cart ---------------- It is very useful to carry heavy goods such as
plastic tanks containing much water. We left
carts after carrying the emergency goods.
It is the best to ask them what is necessary beforehand, however we left
for the destination and called them from near their area because the contact
by phone was almost impossible. Fortunately, we are able to get in touch with
them. (If you are within the area that number is same, it might be easy to get
through.)
[Carrying the emergency goods]
Regarding our group, four teams, total 16 people contributed to carrying
and visit for 8 sufferers. Of course, I joined them to visit A-san and B-san.
Unfortunately, we could not take portable telephone due to the delay of ar-
rangements. Many public telephones were out of order so it was very hard to
contact. Each person took the following goods like mountain climbing and
hiking: Protections agaist the cold, two meals, canteen, electrical torch,
mask, working gloves, knapsack, cart and so on.
[Visit to A-san]
On January 21 (Sat. ), our destination is Higashinada-ku, Kobe-city.
We gathered at Nichimen building at seven-thirty o'clock in the morning.
It takes thirty minutes to go to Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi from Umeda by Hankyu
railway. Upon arriving at the station, we called A-san and B-san to inform
them of our visit. They were glad to hear it. A-san told us that she would
be out but her mother would be at home. It takes about three hours to reach
our destination from the station by walk (about 12km).
National road No.2 was very crowded. Although policemen made traffic
control, some emergency vehicles went backward on the opposite lane unreason-
ably. Pavement partly obstructed by destroyed buildings compelled us to walk
on driveway. Road was jammed with many bicycles and motorbikes. Walking on
the road, old people said that it was like the shopping during war or after
war. However others were walking silently with much luggage on their backs
or drawing them by carts.
Under the confused situation, we carried much luggage by cart in turn.
We met A-san accidently on our way. She told us that she would go to
Osaka to take a bath at her friend's house and to look for large vinyl sheet.
We instructed her to call and ask staff staying at our office to arrange for
the vinyl sheet.
We dropped on at her house at twelve o'clock. We shared our meats with
with her mother. However, she ate only one rice ball because of poor appetite.
We left some rice balls for dinner.
Although the house of A-san was rebuilded recently, many tiles fell down
and it is impossible to close some windowframe and doorframe. Her house might
lean becase of the shake of earthquake. The appliance for illumination on the
second floor fell to the floor.
Old house built in her neighborhood was completely destroyed. There
is the note announcing the place where the remains were laid.
Her family is staying at her neighbor refuge all night in fare of the
aftershock. The supply of electricity recovered however that of water and
gas remained stopped. Therefore they have to go to her neighborhood so as
to get water.
We heard that although her relative delivered large vinyl sheet to her
before noon, covering the roof with it was impossible due to the lack of
men power. According to forecast, we will have rain tomorrow, January 22
(Sun.).
Therefore we hastened to climb the roof and cover there with the sheet.
Althogh it was not perfect, we are relieved to hear that they had no leak
of rain later.
Our work was completed for about one hour. After finishing, we washed
our hands by valuable, a little water. Her mother served four coffees to us
immediately. Although we decided to prevent them serving drink and being
concerned for us at the meeting yesterday.
However we were sincerely glad to know that they were pleased with our
visit.
Reflection on visit to A-san
It was impossible for us to fill the crack of windowframe and doorframe
because of few sticking tapes. If we have taken the metal fitting to fix,
we could have locked up windows. As we heard that thieves appeared, we regret
that we could not do it. And we were not able to help them to carry water in
spite of our having time to spare. In addition, I was anxious at leakage of
rain because I hurt the roof when I covered it with the sheet. This worry
prevented me from sleeping.
[Visit to B-san]
The house is distant about 2km from the house of A-san. The way to her
house was an uphill road. Mother of A-san took us there in her car. If we
had continued walking, we might have given up on the way.
The family of B-san have lived on the second floor in the apartment of
fifteen storeys, where was near Nishi Okamoto-cho, Higashinada-ku showed on
television many times because there was possibility of a washout by rain.
There were a lot of new apartments and they escaped the collapse. However
a great deal of crack was seen everywhere, the front door was not been
shut completely due to the bend of surroundings. So the door could not be
locked.
The supply of water and gas stopped although only electricity was avai-
lable. As B-san and his father went and drew water from the near river, they
were absent from home.
Mineral water, gas sylinder for portable cookoven and others were handed
to her mother. She told us to wait their return and to have tea. So we had
the tea in our canteens. We heard that they cooked by hotplate. Two of our
meals were left for them, although we were sorry that they were the remainder
of our lunch.
Returning to Osaka by walk did not permit us to see cheerful face of B-
san. It was two-forty o'clock to leave for Osaka.
[On our way back]
We descended from the hill along Sumiyoshi-river. A fire engine dammed
the river in order to suck up water near national road No. 2.
We proceeded passing the railway of JR, however it was completely blocked
with collapsed stone fence that had covered the slope.
The building located at national road No.2 seemed to co-op of Kobe-city.
It was used for the place to lay remains.
Proceeding further, a big crane pulled down the wall of a building.
People of self defence force climbed it to save shutted people. Praying God
that there might be survivors in it, we continued walking.
After thirty minutes' walk, national road was completely blocked up. It
seems that large-scale building was cleared.
There is nothing for it but to enter a circuit following large crowd of
people. This road was private road and distant 100m from national road.
However the look around there differed from the previous look. It was old
residential street and there was no houses left original. Almost of all were
crushed. And the place to lay remains was written on the board here and there.
It was very hard for us to walk straightly because the road was blocked
with collapsed much timber and tiles. Old building of five storeys appeared
after walk for a while. The first floor of it was crushed. The paper attach-
ed by tape described some people's names who were buried under the ground.
One old man was walking as he cried.
The condition of this cuicuit made me feel the tragic damage and power-
lessness of human being. While I was writing this report, the above scene
occurs to me and brought tears to my eyes naturally.
When we got back to national road, it was two times more crowded than
morning with people who haste to return to home. After sunset, we reached
the station at six o'clock with difficulty.
[Talk from C-san]
The houses of suffered people where we visit were determined according
to the distance from Nishinomiya-kitaguchi station (about 3 hours walk, 12
to 15km). People who informed us of their safe were excepted.
One of such people is C-san. He requested us to visit sufferers under
severer circumstance.
To tell the truth, his apartment was not available for living and he
went to near park to look after the water for babies that day. We heard
that he spent first night in refuge. He told us that the wooden floor was
was very cold and he lay on cardboard wrapping himself in only one blanket.
[The mail expressing the gratitude of A-san]
I have received the appreciative mail from A-san. This mail is added
by her consent.
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 30-JAN-1995 117:14:54.07
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx
CC:
Subj: From A-san
To all staff in DEC
I had long days off due to this earthquake.
I am very sorry to trouble you.
During my days off, my mother and I felt helpless however nothing could
encourage us more than the sweat and warm-heartedness of the rescue party
and others in DEC. I am happy to report that I have returned to Osaka
office today.
I greatly appreciate your concern for us.
This experience made me notice that we lived among harty people.
Although my house in Higashinada-ku was damaded a little, fortunately
we are fine. I go to office from a hotel for the present, however I
will keep my chin up with the power of Kobe to be revived.
Please send our best wishes to all of you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All staff belonging to Osaka office (about 500 people) was hardly injured in
this earthquake miraculously. However, some people lost their relatives,
about fifty houses were damaged and 10 of them were damaged completely. It
seems that there are about 250 people who have a great damage in their belong-
ings.
Even now the supply of gas and water is stopping. So 50 people live in provi-
sional houses. The extent of damage will amount to 3.6M$ at a rough estimate.
Subscription for sufferers is raised in DEC-J, but worldwide condition is not
clear.
TAKAO FUKUDA /SI OS2 OSAKA OFFICE
|