It's been three months since the 3/11 earthquake---Part 2: The terrible smell is becoming a big problem

Needles to say, the Fukushima disaster has complicated the situation. As you may know, the disaster is still going on and there is still no sign that the plant is getting back under control. In this post, I'll talk about disaster-struck areas in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures which were the most seriously damaged by the 3/11earthquake and tsunami. Some towns there were completely washed away by the massive tsunami.

According to the news, mountains of rubble are here and there. Although local governments involved have been struggling to find sites for temporary moving them out of sight, the victims are forced to live near piles of rubble. The locale governments have announced that they will do their best to remove them from sight in the next few months. On the other hand, it's been projected that it will take about three years until the rubble removal activity is done and it will take another two years until all the removed rubble is disposed of.

http://www.asahi.com/special
/10005/TKY201106040151.html

As summer is approaching, the terrible smell is becoming a big problem. The rubble is giving off various kinds of odors. Specifically, the foul smell of rotten fish is afflicting people in the disaster-struck areas. Since the ocean area around the epicenter of the 3/11 earthquake is one of the three largest fishing grounds in the world, there are many major fishing ports in Miyagi and Iwate. Sadly, almost all of them were devastated, and a large amount of fish which were stored in refrigerated warehouses were scattered all over the tsunami-struck areas. So, it's not easy to get rid of them. Many of them have been inevitably left behind. Some agencies are doing pest control for epidemic prevention.

There are still many missing people. Their families have been struggling to find a way to move on. Some of them are trying to give up finding their loved ones' body/bodies and try to accept their death because it's been three months since that day. Rescue workers collected mementos, like albums, while rummaging amid piles of rubble for bodies. After they drew off, volunteers and local people continuously collect them. For the victims whose personal belongings were totally washed away, finding things which remind them of their lost common but happy lives is an important step to move on. Piles of rubble are being removed with the greatest care.

Some victims have already moved on and want to rebuild their businesses as soon as possible. Some are still struggling to find a way to move on. This difference seems to complicate matters, as well.