A capture of the tsunami attacking Ishinomaki city of Miyagi prefecture. Mr. Koichi Abe of Ishinomaki Gas Inc. video recorded the footage from the rooftop of his office (at the time) near Ishinomaki fishing port.
Following the great earthquake, approximately 35 people including employees from Ishinomaki Gas were evacuated to this rooftop at their headquarters.
The video begins with footage of the waves rushing in close to prefectural road #240 from offshore. The flow seemed quiet at first, but at this point, it carries countless numbers of floating wreckage as it approaches the building, instantly transforming into a rapid current.
The water overflows at the parking lot in front of the building for a brief moment, then washes away all cars within the lot. The cars are tossed around by waves at the face of the building wall where evacuees stand, then jostle against one another like toys.
In a blink of time, the waves gain height and white-capped turbid waters reach close to the rooftop. Observing the unexpected critical situation far beyond imagination, tense voices can be heard all around.
The recorder of the video and those around him climb higher to the rooftop exit’s roof, eager to reach higher ground even if the difference is rather insignificant.
The camera is now positioned higher, shifting inland, projecting images of Minato junior high school and Minato Secondary elementary school about 500 meters away. Minato junior high school is hazy with snowscape.
A woman voices her concern for the children who attend the school, but another voice laudably tries to calm her uneasiness by answering, “That place will be okay.”
The intensity of the waves fail to calm, and even in a large parking structure of the Pachinko shop (21 Seiki Ishinomaki) nearby, one can confirm the torrents pouring in.
Looking around the horizon 360 degrees, all areas surrounding the building have turned into sea, isolating it within the torrent.
After the tsunami pulled away, the evacuees spent the night in anxiety.
According to Ishinomaki Gas, the company later relocated their head office functions to another office as a measure of crisis management. This building, where the footage was shot, was later restored and currently operates as Ishinomaki Gas Myojin office.
