Ishinomaki & The 2011 Tsunami
Ishinomaki
Ishinomaki was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2011 Tsunami. Over 3,400 people were killed or missing and nearly 57,000 of the 74,000 homes is the city were damaged or destroyed. The highest waves hitting parts of the city were 20 to 24 feet high (6.0m-7.4M). Reconstruction is still underway with new seawalls and a levee system along the Kyukitakami River. New bridge is being constructed just inland of Nakaze Island that will hopefully be above any future flood level. The old bridge was a major evacuation route and many perished as the tsunami engulfed this area.
View of the Mouth of the Kyukitakami River in 1951. There was considerable residential construction on the south side of the river prior to the tsunami
View of the mouth of the Kyukitakami River in 2019.
Informal memorial on Nakaze Island in October 2019, eight years after the tsunami. Somebody had just put fresh flowers in front of the table.
View of Nakase Island, October 2019. Note bridge construction
Nakase Island 2011