One of nature's most spectacular events occurring in a river in tsunami-affected Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, is signifying a welcome recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
One of nature's most spectacular events occurring in a river in tsunami-affected Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, is signifying a welcome recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Salmon started moving upstream in the Ryori gawa river to spawn after volunteer workers removed rubble that had blocked the flow following the March 11 temblor.On Oct. 15, a number of salmon that had died after spawning were found drifting on the side of the river.“Salmon started returning around late September. I felt so relieved when I saw them for the first time (since the earthquake),” said Hiroshi Sato, 37, chairman of Sanriku Volunteer Divers, a nonprofit organization working to clear the debris. On March 11, a tsunami triggered by the earthquake struck the Ryori fishing port, where the mouth of the Ryori gawa is located. The ferocious waves, which swept away houses on both banks of the river, ran upstream about 1 kilometer, leaving behind tons of rubble.According to Ofunato city officials, salmon are now expected to continue swimming upstream to spawn until the end of this year.