Higashimatsushima
Higashimatsushima (東松島市, Higashimatsushima-shi, lit. East Matsushima; "Matsushima" means "Pine Island") is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It was created on April 1, 2005, when the towns of Naruse and Yamoto, both formally of Monou District, merged to form the new city. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 42,762 and a population density of 420 persons per km². The total area is 101.86 km². The Satohama shell mound and museum is in the city.
2011 earthquake disaster
On 11 March 2011 the town was hit by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami resulting in at least 1,039 deaths.[1] During the tsunami, a 45 metre ship, the Chōkai Maru, was hurled over a pier and left aground in the town. At the time of the disaster, Higashimatsushima had still not fully recovered from a previous major earthquake in 2003.[2][3] About 63% of the town was inundated by the tsunami.[4]
Transportation
Train stations
- Senseki Line: Rikuzen-Ōtsuka - Tōna - Nobiru - Rikuzen-Ono - Kazuma - Yamoto - Higashi-Yamoto - Rikuzen-Akai
Major roads
- Sanriku Expressway (Naruse-Okumatsushima, Yamoto, and Ishinomaki interchanges)
- Route 45
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
References
- ^ NOAA Data 2 April 2011
- ^ Tsunami survivors face monstrous cleanup task, Japan Times, 26 March 2011
- ^ Gilhooly, Rob, "Tsunami-hit towns face dire future", Japan Times, 1 April 2011, p. 4.
- ^ NHK, "Tsunami flooded 100 square kilometers of city land", 29 March 2011.