A debris flow that occurred in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture last month, and it was confirmed that the bones found last month in the sand removed from the site belonged to an 80-year-old woman who was missing until the end.
On July 3, 2020, a large-scale mudslide occurred in the Izuyama area of Atami City, killing 27 people, including disaster-related deaths. Kazuko Ota, who was 80 years old at the time, went missing. rice field.
In the search so far, a driver's license and cash card in Mr. Ota's name were found, but Mr. Ota's girlfriend was not found, and the search was continued.
Under these circumstances, when the police were sifting the earth and sand removed from the residential area last month with heavy equipment, they found a bone about 15 cm long.
As a result of matching with the DNA type provided by her relatives, it was confirmed that it was part of Ota's arm bone.
More than a year and seven months after the debris flow occurred, the last missing person was discovered, and the Shizuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters Disaster Countermeasures Division said, "We are working with the desire to return it to the family as soon as possible. We were able to do it, so I'm glad we were able to do it, but I'm sorry that it took so long.I would like to thank the members who helped in the search and the local people who cooperated."
According to the Prefectural Police Headquarters, a total of 24,000 police officers and police officers, including support from other prefectures, have responded to the debris flow damage. That's it.
Woman's eldest son "He finally came home"
Kazuko Ota's eldest son, Tomoaki Ota (57), said, "I was depressed every time I was not found in the search activities that the police carried out every month on the month of my death. This time, my mother's bones were found. , I was relieved that he finally came back. I am very grateful to everyone involved."