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Ōfunato

大船渡市
City
The Ōfunato City Hall on 9 June 2010
The Ōfunato City Hall on 9 June 2010
Flag of Ōfunato
Flag
Location of Ōfunato in Iwate
Location of Ōfunato in Iwate
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Iwate
Area
 • Total 323.30 km2 (124.83 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2014)
 • Total 38,616
 • Density 119/km2 (310/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree Pine
- Flower Camellia
- Bird Black-tailed Gull
Address 15, Sakarichō Aza Utsunosawa, Ōfunato-shi, Iwate-ken 022-8501
Website City of Ōfunato

Ōfunato (大船渡市, Ōfunato-shi) is a city in southeastern Iwate, Japan.

The city of Ōfunato was originally part of the ancient Mutsu Province. It has been settled since the Jōmon period. The modern village of Ōfunato was made within Kesen District, Iwate on April 1, 1889. In 1896, the Meiji-Sanriku earthquake caused a 25 meter tsunami that killed 27,000 people in Sanriku. Ōfunato was promoted officially promoted to town status on April 1, 1932. In 1933, a 8.4 magnitude earthquake stuck the town and caused a 28 meter tsunami that killed 1522 people. On April 1, 1952, the town of Sakari, and villages of Akasaki, Takkon, Massaki, Ikawa and Hikoroichi all merged with Ōfunato to form the city. On November 15, 2001, the town of Sanriku (from Kesen District) also merged into Ōfunato.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

Ōfunato was very badly damaged by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The wave that hit the city was estimated to have reached 23.6 meters in height.

It was listed that 3,498 out of 15,138 houses in the town were destroyed by the tsunami and 305 people were confirmed dead. At least six of Ōfunato's 58 designated evacuation sites were flooded by the tsunami.

  • US Navy 110315-N-2653B-144 Vehicles and debris line a canal in the downtown area of Ofunato, Japan

    Vehicles and debris in a canal in Downtown Ōfunato

  • US Navy 110315-N-2653B-107 An upended house is among debris in Ofunato, Japan, following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami

    An upside-down house among the debris

  • US Navy 110315-N-2653B-148 A tug boat is among debris in Ofunato, Japan, following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami

    A tugboat among the debris

  • US Navy 110315-N-2653B-054 The city of Ofunato, Japan, is severely damaged by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami

    The city littered with debris


Images for kids

  • Ofunato Port South

    Ofunato port, 2006

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ōfunato (Iwate) para niños

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