Wilmington, Del. — Senator Chris Coons released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated part of Japan’s coast, including Delaware’s sister state of Miyagi:
“One year ago, Japan was hit by a massive earthquake that triggered a tsunami and devastated a large part of Japan’s coast in and around the Miyagi Prefecture. More than 15,800 people died and almost 4,000 remain classified as missing.
Watching the news of March 11, 2011 unfold was especially difficult because Miyagi and Delaware are sister states. We have a close relationship that spans nearly 20 years. Some of us knew residents of Soma, Sendai, and other parts of Japan from student exchange opportunities and business-to-business visits that Delaware and Miyagi have organized over the years. Delawareans were generous and quick to respond, raising nearly $100,000 for children newly orphaned by the disaster.
Today, I stand with the people of Miyagi and the other devastated areas to mourn and remember those we lost. My spirits are lifted by the signs of recovery we already see, including the clean fields that were once strewn with debris and cars. What they have accomplished in one year is astounding. Rebuilding is hard work, and recovery for those who lost family, friends, and neighbors will take time. I will continue to find ways to help our friends in Miyagi recover. On this day of remembrance, my thoughts and prayers are with Miyagi.”
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