MASHIKI,
Japan — People here said they had known that a network of fault lines
ran under their town like veins. But no major earthquake had struck in
anyone’s lifetime. Even in Japan, the most seismically unstable country in the world, that fact had apparently created a false sense of security.
That was before two earthquakes struck within just over a day last week.
On
Sunday, some braved the seemingly endless aftershocks to sift through
their shattered homes, looking for valuables — a bankbook, medication
needed by an elderly relative. Others sheltered in their cars, as even
the sturdiest buildings suddenly felt fragile.
“There
were stories from hundreds of years ago, but nobody thought it would
happen right under them,” said Tadashi Uchida, 77, the head of a
neighborhood association in a section of Mashiki with about 500
households.
No comments:
Post a Comment