Emperor, Empress Mourn Flood Victims in Wajima

   Wajima, Ishikawa Pref., Dec. 17 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bowed to mourn flood victims in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
   On their third trip this year to the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture to cheer up people afflicted by a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 1 and torrential rain in September, the Imperial couple visited the Futegawa-machi district of Wajima after arriving at Noto Airport aboard a special plane shortly before 11:30 a.m.
   In the district, four people including a junior high school girl were killed when the Tsukada River flooded on Sept. 21.
   Following a briefing given by Wajima Mayor Shigeru Sakaguchi, the Emperor and Empress looked at the disaster site with debris and driftwood still remaining, and bowed silently toward where houses had existed. The girl is believed to have been in her house at the time of the flooding.
   The couple also visited Wajima Junior High School, which is now used as an evacuation center for some 50 people, leaning down and talking to the evacuees one by one.

(2024/12/17-19:10)