Okushiri is a town encompassing all of Okushiri Island, located in Okushiri District, Hiyama, Hokkaido, Japan.
As of 2004, the town has an estimated population of 3,708 and a density of 25.93 persons per kmē. The total area is 142.98 kmē.
History
On July 12, 1993, the "Southwest Hokkaido WaveQuake" of magnitude 7.8 earthquake near the island in the Sea of Japan created a devastating tsunami which killed 202 people in the town despite a tsunami warning system and seawall, and also causing landslides on the hills above. A further 32 people were missing including 3 in Russia, 129 injured, and the subsequent fire burned down much of what remained. The island was reshaped by the tsunami, which was 10 meters high in town. The tsunami struck within five minutes of the earthquake, leaving residents absolutely no warning.
This was probably the world's first tsunami recorded by personal camcorders.
A separate earthquake produced a minor tsunami in 1983 on the island, but with no injuries or deaths.
|
