(VOVworld) – 5 years ago an earthquake triggered a tsunami, which claimed approximately 19,000 lives in Japan. It was Japan’s worst disaster since World War 2. Reconstruction has continued in affected localities.

Otsuchi, a coastal town in Iwate prefecture, has built 40 temporary residential areas for approximately 3,000 people. It plans to reduce the number of temporary residential areas to 12 by 2018 and close them altogether in 2021. In Green Pier Sanriku Miyako, the biggest temporary residential area in Taro town, Miyako city, the local government has built a 22-store shopping mall.

70 well-equipped houses friendly to the environment have been built at Ogaguchi Icchome settlement with rents supported by the local government. Public facilities such as parks, baseball fields, hospitals, and schools have been upgraded or built in Miyako city. More importantly, a sea dyke is under construction.

Millions of tons of rubbish and debris have been cleared on Japan’s northeast coast. A number of towns have been built on higher ground using renewable energy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said reconstruction in disaster hit areas has entered a new period. The government will provide all necessary assistance for survivors. The central government has allocated billions of USD for reconstruction in the most affected areas. More than half of 3.500 businesses in Japan’s northeastern region have restored their revenues prior to the disaster with construction experiencing the highest growth. Many seaports have been restored. The government has spent millions of USD on treating land affected by saline intrusion and restoring agricultural production in disaster-ravaged areas.

With unity, determination, and ceaseless efforts, Japanese people are gradually reviving dead zones although reconstruction still has a long way to go.