Sightseeing boat still perched atop Iwate hostel roof

[AsahinaKimi]

IWATE —

Prior to March 11, the sightseeing boat Hamayuri used to attract many tourists each day, leaving from its home port of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, for a cruise along the coast.

But since the earthquake and ensuing tsunami that washed away a number of towns, the boat has been perched atop a hostel’s roof in Kamaishi’s neighboring town of Otsuchi. The town is trying to figure out the best way to remove the 27-meter-long boat before it collapses through the roof and causes further damage.



In order to be removed, however, the boat must be dismantled – despite miraculously being in perfect shape and working order.

According to Hideaki Kariya, 59, the boat’s captain for 14 years, Hamayuri was in Otsuchi port when the tsunami struck. He had evacuated and from a vantage spot, he saw the boat tossed by the tsunami approximately six meters up in the air before it was carried into the town where it finally came to rest on the 2-story hostel’s roof.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/sightseeing-boat-still-perched-atop-hostel-roof?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=news_on_twitter

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Still seaworthy, gonna be hell, getting that thing down.. O.o"

[Trajan]

1. Just one of many examples of the utter devastation that befell Japan

The nuclear issue has taken precedence, but the devastation from the tsunami has been far far worse than any other aspect of this tragedy ....

Pitiful ...

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Here are some pictures of Otsuchi before the disaster

http://www.geocities.co.jp/SilkRoad-Lake/4605/machi/otsuchi2.html