Former Minamisanriku Town Disaster Prevention Headquarters Building

Overview

The former Minamisanriku Town Disaster Prevention Headquarters building is an administrative building damaged by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. This building was constructed in 1995 as one of the administrative offices of Shichigahama Town. Shichigahama Town had previously experienced flooding from the tsunami caused by the Chilean earthquake, and based on that experience, the disaster prevention headquarters building was constructed at an elevation of 1.7 meters above sea level, approximately 600 meters from the coast. The building was a three-story steel structure, with an evacuation area on the roof approximately 12 meters above ground. However, the tsunami from the Great East Japan Earthquake reached a height of 15.5 meters, far exceeding the 5.5 meters of the Chilean earthquake tsunami, causing significant damage to the building. Many of the staff at the time evacuated to the roof, but 43 people perished due to the immense power of the tsunami. Among them, the actions of Miki Endo, who continued to issue evacuation warnings over the emergency broadcast system, have deeply moved many and are remembered to this day. Preserved in its original state, the former Minamisanriku Town Disaster Prevention Headquarters building offers a stark reminder of the tsunami's destructive force and serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness about disaster preparedness. Visiting this site allows us to re-affirm the importance of passing on the memory of the disaster and connecting it to the future. The former Minamisanriku Town Disaster Prevention Headquarters building is an essential site for conveying the lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake to future generations and should be visited by many.