10,566 dead and 1,219 missing in Miyagi Prefecture

Many precious lives were lost in the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Nationwide, 19,729 people died, with 2,559 missing (as of March 1, 2020). Miyagi Prefecture suffered 10,566 deaths, with 1,219 people missing. This single prefecture alone accounted for more than 50% of the death toll in the entire country. The search for missing persons continues to this day.

Looking at the causes of death, some 90% were due to drowning, while many also died due to hypothermia after being exposed to water. There were many deaths arising from physical or mental fatigue caused by having to live in evacuation centers and the like, or from delays in receiving initial medical treatment, stress caused by the earthquake or tsunami, and suicide. Such disaster-related deaths numbered as many as 3,739.

At the same flow depth, higher mortality rates in the plains area

Research was conducted to study the relationship between the place of residence of deceased persons and the tsunami flow depth in that area. The results revealed a tendency for the damage to differ in the ria coastal area and the plains area of Miyagi Prefecture. Flow depth refers to the height of the surface of the tsunami above the ground in places that were flooded. In Miyagi Prefecture, the ria coast, which is home to cities such as Ishinomaki and Kesennuma, recorded a greater number of deaths than the plains. On the other hand, when comparing mortality rates for the same flow depth, the plains tended toward higher rates.

One possible reason for this may be that, in comparison to the ria coast, the plains lack nearby hills to which people can evacuate.

Mortality rate (%) = Number of deaths at the same flow depth in 13 towns and cities, divided by the estimated number of residents in those areas