Miki Endo

Miki Endo
Born(1986-07-18)July 18, 1986
DiedMarch 11, 2011(2011-03-11) (aged 24)
Minamisanriku, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Voice warning and alarm agent
Known forSelf-sacrifice in order to warn others of the incoming 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The remnants of the Crisis Management Department Building where Miki Endo was swept away by the tsunami.

Miki Endo (遠藤 未希, Endō Miki, July 18, 1986, Japan – March 11, 2011, Minamisanriku, Japan) was an employee of the town of Minamisanriku's Crisis Management Department, tasked with broadcasting disaster advisories and warnings.

During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami she remained at her post on the second floor of the three-storey Crisis Management Center continuing to broadcast warnings and alerts over the community loudspeaker system as the tsunami swept over the building and silencing the loudspeakers, killing her and overwhelming the town.[1] Of the approximately 40 people who fled to the roof of the building, only 11 survived, by clinging to the rooftop antenna.[2]

She was hailed in the Japanese news media as a heroine for sacrificing her life and was credited with saving many lives. Miki's body was discovered and identified by authorities on 23 April 2011.[3][4]

The three-storey headquarters of the department remained standing but was completely gutted, with only a red-colored steel skeleton remaining.[5][6] Photos show the roof of the building completely submerged at the height of the inundation, with some people clinging to the rooftop antenna.[7][8] The remnants of the building have been preserved during the city's recovery.[9]

References

  1. ^ Winchester, Simon (2018). Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World (Hardback). London: William Collins. pp. 323–324. ISBN 978-0-00-824176-6.
  2. ^ Nishiyama, George (August 26, 2011). "Japan Town Divided Over Tsunami Monument". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Jerry (2012-09-29). "遠藤未希/Miki Endo, the future's hope in 南三陸町/Minamisanriku-cho, Miyagi, Japan". Archived from the original on 2017-09-10. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  4. ^ Folger, Tim (February 2012). "The Calm before the Wave". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2019-12-28. In Minamisanriku the killed or missing number about 900 of 17,700 inhabitants, including Miki Endo, whose body was not found until April 23.
  5. ^ "Saitama to teach about Miyagi's tsunami 'angel'". Japan Times. Jiji Press. 2012-01-30. p. 2.
  6. ^ Jervey, Ben (2011-03-17). "Heroes: Hear the Voice of the Heroic Young Woman Who Saved Thousands of Lives". Good Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2016-05-27.
  7. ^ "Miki Endo, missing heroine of Minamisanriku" (video). NHK World. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ [画像]宮城県南三陸町の防災対策庁舎の人を押し流す津波+南三陸町津波動画 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ^ "【●REC from 311～復興の現在地】宮城・南三陸町⑤ 定点撮影 2021年Ver". All-Nippon News Network (ANN). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.


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