It has been 20 years since the accident that 11 spectators of the fireworks display died at the pedestrian bridge in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, and the bereaved families and citizens mourned the victims at the scene.
At the pedestrian bridge in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, 20 years ago, on July 21, 2001, a spectator at the fireworks festival collapsed in a crowded area, killing 11 people including young children and injuring about 250 people. did.
At the pedestrian bridge at the site, around 8:30 pm on the 21st, the bereaved family, citizens, and Mayor Fusaho Izumi of Akashi City joined hands with the memorial monument to mourn the victims.
After that, a group of volunteers sang a memorial song called "Goodbye Fireworks" made for those who died in the accident.
In Akashi City, which hosted the fireworks display, more than half of the staff were hired after the accident, so we are focusing on preventing recurrence by inheriting the lessons learned from the accident through training and other means.
At that time, Masaharu Arima (62) of Akashi City, who lost his 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son in an accident, said, "It's hard to remember those days clearly when I come here. I apologize for the fact that I brought it, and I apologize for the inconvenience. I told them that I would like to do my best and live forward. "
A one-month-old man at the time Thoughts on a woman who died after helping me
There was a baby who saved his life at the scene of this accident.
A woman in her 70s who helped her baby died in the accident, and a 20-year-old man visited the scene with his mother to express his gratitude.
Shouma Yamashita (20), a construction company in Kobe, was involved in an accident while heading for a fireworks display on July 21, 2001, when he was one month old and was taken by his mother, Kana. It was.
Many people were crowded on the pedestrian bridge, and the stroller I was riding in was out of Kana's hands.
Shouma was saved by being held up by Ritsuko Kusanagi (71 at the time) who happened to be by her side and handed over from person to person.
I was taken to the hospital, but there was no serious injury and I met Kana again the next day.
However, Kyo Kusanagi, a lifesaver, died after helping Shouma.
On the 21st, Shouma-san and Kana-san joined hands at the memorial monument at the scene and expressed their gratitude and report that they were 20 years old for their health.
Mr. Shouma said, "I am alive thanks to Mr. Kusanagi, so I want to come with flowers next year and again next year. I want to be an adult who is kind to children."
Kana Yamashita, her mother, said, "I come to this place every year to express my gratitude for the help of Mr. Kusanagi. I don't want to remember the accident because I'm so scared, but don't forget. I don't think we should have the same accident. "