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Parents of 4 children in bus swept away by tsunami sue kindergarten

63 Comments

The parents of four children who died when their kindergarten bus was swept away by the tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture on March 11 are suing the kindergarten for damages. The families claim that the kindergarten sent out the school bus despite having been alerted 20 minutes earlier that a large tsunami was approaching.

The families also claim the bus was driven too close to the ocean, despite the forewarning. They say the children should have been kept at the kindergarten which is located on higher ground. The bus left the kindergarten with 12 children, and dropped seven off before it was hit by the tsunami. It caught fire, killing the remaining five children and the driver. The families of four of those children are suing the kindergarten for 270 million yen.

One of the bereaved parents told a news conference in Sendai on Wednesday: "We'd like to hear the kindergarten apologize sincerely for failing to take adequate measures to protect the children. The bus should have at least turned back."

A representative of the kindergarten said they plan to examine the nature and content of the complaint before deciding on the best course of action.

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It sounds like the kindergarden is indeed at fault here. No doubt they were trying to get rid of the kids as fast as possible to avoid any responsibility and as such completely ignored the eminent dangers. They even got their driver killed.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I would first like to know what the Kindergarten had in place in the event of an emergency. Depending on what that says and if they deviated or not plays a lot in the matter. Common Since (not always common) would ask why they drove towards the water and a lower elevation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I saw a report about this on J TV a few months ago. It was awful. There were actually two buses, one turned back to the kindergarten and was safe, the other kept going. It was caught in the tsunami and caught fire. The kids burned to death inside. Horrendous.

The Mother they interviewed didnt know why the bus kept going. The driver also died. Meanwhile her daughter was just about to graduate kindergarten and start elementary school. She has her desk set up in her bedroom, her landsell shiny and ready to go. In her kindergarten memoir she wrote when she grows up she wants to be just like her Mother. Her Mother went to elementary school on her behalf with her picture and answered her name when it was called at the entrance ceremony.

She scoured the site where the bus was found looking for evidence of her daughter. She found a burned out shoe, and a couple of her pictures. She wonders in her last moments if her daughter was calling her name and says she had promised her daughter nothing bad would ever happen to her and she would always protect her. She was like a zombie, and said she felt incredible guilt for not keeping that promise.

So yes, I dont blame the parents in the slightest for wanting answers.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

“We’d like to hear the kindergarten apologize sincerely for failing to take adequate measures to protect the children. The bus should have at least turned back.”

Sorry parents, no such thing in Japan. Good luck with your lawsuits though~

RIP little angels -_-;

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Well, it appears to be a mistake by the school as well as an error in judgement by the driver. One bus turned back and the other didn't. How many times before this tragedy have you seen tsunami warnings on television only to have them turn out to be only centimeter high? This is very unfortunate but I think a many of the deaths were caused by apathy towards the warnings.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Bluewitch R u bitter much?

Well this is a sad news.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Sad news.

But did the kindergarten cause or expect the tsunami? This is an extreme situation that is NOT covered by any manual or training, you would know if you been in such a situation.

As for the parents how do they dare to put a "price/value" on their loved/lost ones, how low can you get? If I lost my son there is NO amount that would compensate me nor can replace him.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

The point is "It"S ME" is that the kids didn't have to die had the kindergarten followed guidelines (and common sense) of not driving near the ocean while knowing there was a tsunami warning in effect.

Whatever the amount the parents are suing the kindergarten/school district for is irrelevant as it's more of a call for some kind of punishment and acceptance of responsibility for making such a grave and stupid error.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

kids from Nursery - Senior High School kids died that day.

Many children died, I can`t blame the school. Because it was an accident. The bus driver died too !!!! I think he wanted to live through the natural diaster.

ITS A NATURAL DISASTER. You simplely cant prepare for things like that. Not every school has a good leader or a person that can lead people in a natural diaster. Some people panic. Some people made bad choices.

When the earthquake struck, my kindergarten had finished 2 hours early. I had an after school class. I didnt like my supervisors choices but I had to do what she said.

I didnt want my students to stay on the second floor. Actually I wanted to children to wait outside at a nearby parking lot or march them to the nearest evac. station. I dont know how well our building can stand the after shocks and what not. Thirty minutes after the earthquake, parents started to pick up their children at my school.

So i can figure out the kindergarten school was trying to send the kids home because the parents couldnt pick them up. The bus didnt have a teacher present on the bus ???Just the driver ???? I don`t understand that ???? Usually, a bus driver and assistant is in every bus.

The bus didn`t have a CB/ 2 way radio, which is really not good. In America, mostly all buses have a 2 way radio or something just for emergencies. I bet the bus driver`s mobile phone was out/or lost signal.

The major point, I wanted to add is - It was record breaking major earthquake. The worst disaster of modern times. Some people can`t react well, when something of this magnitude comes there way.

Instead of a lawsuit, I would just like an apology. And some kind of memorial at the school. If the school is open now, and the staff didn`t say anything to me. No apologies or nothing.

I would be extremely upset. But I wouldn`t have a suit going. I would make sure the Principal or manager of the place lose their job and never have a management position anymore.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

As for the parents how do they dare to put a "price/value" on their loved/lost ones, how low can you get? If I lost my son there is NO amount that would compensate me nor can replace him.

Of course no amount can replace a son or daughter.. everyone knows that..... but if someone is at fault why should they just walk away scott free.. Money is a way to make them pay for their life changing bad decision... next time they could save lives... If they messed up they should pay somehow... and if families get money...why not.. they just lost a kid so why shouldnt their life be a little easier without any money problems. Imagine losing a kid and your house has gone and no money.... At least they can rebuild with less pressure...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What if the parents requested that they wanted their kids home as soon as possible. Is it the school`s fault ???

What if the phones were working and all the parents called the school demanding that their child be brought back to them. Is it the schools fault ???? I bet thats what happened.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is a terribly sad example of what can happen when your small children are in the care of paid help instead of family. Hope this makes more parents more responsible for their childrens welfare.

-11 ( +0 / -10 )

But did the kindergarten cause or expect the tsunami? This is an extreme situation that is NOT covered by any manual or training, you would know if you been in such a situation.

Actually, I read about this a few months ago - there was a manual. It stated that when there was an earthquake, the students were to be kept at the school until their parents picked them up. The principal ignored this and put the kids on the bus and sent them home. Seeing as the principal didn't follow the rules, and the children died as a result, I'd say that the parents probably will win this one.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Whiskeysour: "ITS A NATURAL DISASTER. You simplely cant prepare for things like that."

Ummm... what you can do is heed the warnings. The school was warned 20 minutes beforehand about the tsunami. Why did one bus turn back if they didn't suspect trouble? There ARE rules in place about keeping the kids at school (which are often evacuation centers to boot!), but the person responsible in this case clearly did not.

Nothing will come of the law suit, of course. The Principal will 'retire' to a job at the local City Hall, and the rest will be shouganaied.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The parents' feelings must be unbearable. I can't even imagine such a loss.

The kindergarten is most probably at fault, and I understand that the parents must be confused and lost, feeling like they must penalize someone to compensate their loss.

As a third-party, I think that there must be more healing in doing something more proactive, like campaigning to ensure that something like that never happens again. They can organize a community council to review safety procedures and to train heads of schools and kindergartens about what to do in an emergency and how to best assess the situation.

But I guess with all of the stress from the horrible loss, they don't have room to think about that kind of stuff right now. My heart goes out to them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Right Steve. everyone should avoid kindergartens in case another tsunami comes and the bus they are on doesnt turn back. How about when a kid gets a haircut? he/she is in the care of paid help... Or at the doctors office? Yes, we can all avoid these tragedies by locking our children n a padded room and never trusting anyone near them or allow them out of our sight.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Another thing I would like to add is that it probably doesn't matter if there is a manual or not. To be honest, in an unprecedented emergency, people are panicking, they are not scrambling to read a manual. They act mostly on instinct, even if there are guidelines set out for them.

The most effective way to change the policy is not to have some people pay money to you for the rest of their lives. It is to train them to know how to effectively handle such a situation in the future.

But anyone in that situation would become emotional about it. I am sure I would not react the same way I am now if I was actually one of those parents. The pain and confusion of loss must really be a lot to handle.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

KaptanKichigai; When under five they should be supervised responsiby at all times. I would not leav e my small child alone at a hairdresses or doctors, what responsible parent would? When children start becoming more aware of what is going on around them they are allowed more independence. Kindergarten aged children should be respnsibly monitored 24/7.

Manslaughter charges should be brought against those responsible for failing in their duty to protect the children.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Another thing I would like to add is that it probably doesn't matter if there is a manual or not. To be honest, in an unprecedented emergency, people are panicking, they are not scrambling to read a manual.

It's the principal's responsibility to know what the proper actions are in the case of an earthquake. He shouldn't have needed to read the manual, he should have already known what the guidelines are. Particularly in the case of an earthquake - it's not like they should be unexpected here. To not know the guidelines, and/or to ignore them, is a gross negligence that resulted in these children's deaths (as well as the bus driver). After all, if the principal doesn't know the guidelines, then who does?

They act mostly on instinct, even if there are guidelines set out for them. Which: A) Would make them a bad principal B) Would most likely make them liable.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Manslaughter charges should be brought against those responsible for failing in their duty to protect the children.

Your posting history would indicate that you mean the parents, right?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Of course, that is what should happen. But realistically, who is going to remember everything about a manual when an emergency of that scale really occurs?

I was a student at the time, and my school was a mess after the quake. Nobody knew what to do, and I think that the principals made a few bad choices. But honestly, I can't blame them, because that's what happens when people panic.

They act mostly on instinct, even if there are guidelines set out for them. Which: A) Would make them a bad principal B) Would most likely make them liable

Even if you have a manual and even if you know what you should be doing, when you panic, you make mistakes and have poor judgment. That's why the only way to solve the issue is to train people really carefully, so they learn how not to panic.

I don't mean to trivialize it, but it's like a spelling bee. Even if you know how to spell things, when you are put on the spot and nervous and panicky, you are more likely to make a mistake. I am a girl, but I remember losing on the word "obstetrician" once. I definitely should have known that one. But the students who are trained to not feel nervous and panicky make it all the way to Nationals.

Like I said, I do not think the parents are wrong for suing the school. I think that they are justified, as I would probably feel the same way they do in their situation. But at the same time, I do not think that people should pin it all on one person's decision. With or without a manual, people will panic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

TokyoTanuki; I am referring to those whose care the children were with at the time, ie the kindergarten. The parents are no doubt in a terrible state knowing that they put the children in the care of criminals. The families have suffred enough.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Beru Amber K; sadly there isn't a manual that gives people common sense yet. The place was in an raea taht had suffered many tsunamis through the ages. There was also a tsunami alert. Parents, please put your children before making money, theya re precious. How many more kids are going to needlessly die through being "cared" for by paid helpers?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I completely understand why people ignored the tsunami warning. At least 30 days since March our city has broadcast heavy rain warnings often in the middle of the night but not once did we have a heavy rain and only twice did it rain at all on days that there were broadcast warnings.

Everyone, and I mean everyone has learned to ignore these warnings. People are fed up with the warnings broadcast every time a cloud appears.

If you ask me the city should be held liable in the future if they broadcast a warning and it is ignored depending on how many middle of the night, crying wolf" warnings they have issued in the past.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

proxy; Mmmm, i ahve never considered that point. Where i live in Japan i have no experinece of any warnings. We have had the local fire brigade blasting out warnings about fires during hot weather, but nothing else.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

This really shows what a mess Japanese planning for earthquakes and tsunamis is. It shouldn't be left up to individual organisations- Japan's useless governments should be coordinating it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Speed.

And of course you know all the routes to the evacuation areas and would have done better. Why weren't you there to save the kiddies? Ditto for other know-it-alls here.

Gimme a frikkin break from all the internet heroes who can and will do better but are never there when it matters. Same way all the internet tough guys on the net are really 6foot4 and build like brick-wall who will own superman without breaking a sweat.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Ignoring the tsunami warning and travelling in a kindergarten bus without an assistant spells guilty.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In the case where the children were burnt to death, the driver survived. He went back to the kindergarten and reported the situation but nobody lifted a finger to get the kids to safety. I'd be on death row by now if my child had been on that bus.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People here seem to be forgetting that tsuanmi warnings are usually after low magnitude earthquakes and for 5cm tsunamis, not after earthquakes that make you feel like the world is ending and for 3 metre tsunamis with the tsunami warning sirens blaring all arond town. That does NOT normally happen. It was pretty obvious it was different this time. And it really is not too much to ask for the principal to know what to do in the event of a large earthquake. This Is Japan, everyone knows what to do in the event! The kindergarten my daughter attends managed to follow their earthquake prodedures with no problem at all. The principal and all the teachers knew what to do immediately. It really is not that hard. And we live miles away from a coast with no high buildings around so it's not even imperative they know what to do, unlike if you live right next to one of the most tsunami and earthquake ravaged coasts in the history of the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hang on. It wasn't your typical tsunami warning... It was a major tsunami warning. For those that don't know, Japan has more than one type of tsunami alert/alarm.

Knowing that a major tsunami is imminent, I can't help feeling that the school acted totally irresponsibly by sending children towards the coast and at a lower altitude than the school.

Of course there is no manual for this type of situation, but basic common sense would have prevented this shocking and heart breaking tragedy.

I mean who sends children down to sea level and towards the coast when a MAJOR tsunami warning has just been issued?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Stupid, stupid $$$$ only thinking Japanese kindergartens! $$$ yen yen yen!! oh, so a few of their little customers get killed off by a tsunami?? These stupid kind of schools make me sick to my stomach! RIP little kids on the wrong bus up there in Sendai.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How horrible for the children and the parents. The kindergarten definitely should not have let the bus go. A school should always err on the side of caution when dealing with decisions regarding child safety. Very sad.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And if they didn't send them off and kids died than what?

Reminds me off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkqAEjZfVv8

Like they say "Damned if you do or don't.".

Some people you just can't please and they will always be haters. ;)

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

When I read the title I was pissed that parents were filing a lawsuit against the school. Teachers and principals have to put up with a lot of monster parents. But in this case, if the bus really was driving near the sea 20 minutes after a tsunami warning was issued these parents have just cause to be angry. It seems very irresponsible to me to go near the ocean for any reason after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake. Every adult should have enough common sense to stay away from the ocean after a quake like this one.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

well at first i was thinking it wasn't their Fault. BUT a 20 min Warning should have been taken seriously. so yeah its the schools Fault.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law."

stumbled across this yesterday, seems appropriate for todays news

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Unfortunately, there are too many warnings in Japan. 99% of them are quite unnecessary. That is why many people pay little or no attention to the 1% of warnings that are really necessary. Also, speaker systems that have been installed, I imagine, for such warnings are constantly being used for useless purposes such as telling people it is 12 o'clock and time for lunch, 5 o'clock and kids should go home or that they must keep their dog on a lead. It is little wonder that people do not heed warnings: they try not to listen and pay virtually not attention to the damn speakers that keep disturbing the peace in the countryside.

It is also possible that they thought there was no great risk from a tsunami as it was an area zoned for housing or that they would be safe because protective barriers had been built.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I honestly thought schools would have had regular drills for this very situation, maybe twice yearly - and had clear instructions to head to higher ground when warned that a tsunami is on it's way. After all - this area is known as The Tsunami Coast for good reason. Make no mistake: HUGE tsunami have smashed this area since the year dot, and even bigger ones will hit it in future.

Having said that, nothing will bring the poor kids back - and I feel a lawsuit against the school would possibly lead to several (surviving) teachers committing suicide.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

PS - I recall seeing a photo of this bus with the tragic kids and driver in the days after the disaster, in the Yomiuri. The image will stay with me forever: it caught fire after the gas tank was ripped open and combusted. All the poor little ones and their driver were incinerated. Their parents will never recover from that sight. May they all be resting in Peace.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I personally think that kindergartens should stop employing 60-70 year old men as drivers. The ones in my neighborhood regularly make poor driving decisions on narrow streets (probably trying to keep on schedule rather than keep the kids safe). You don't have great reflexes at that age. One bus returned to the kindergarten and all the kids were safe, the other bus continued on. Obviously a poor decision on the part of the driver.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It makes no logical sense to quickly send kids home that live in the direction of the ocean. Why not wait at least one hour after the alert to ensure the tsunami posed no danger? Parents would be worried and want to see their children as soon as possible, but wouldn't they look for them first at their school....

This is definitely human error due to panic, especially when all the kids were screaming and crying after being shaken violently for a good minute+.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can't see the value in suing the Kindergarten. What to they expect to gain? A lot of people experienced tragedies and I'm sue the bus driver has every intention of bringing the children to safety. He main the wrong choice. It happens. There is no point in rubbing salt in the wound.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The carers at the kindergarden should indeed have kept the chidren entrusted to them safely at the nursury until given the all clear, however apportioning some of the blame upon the childrens parents for having thier children minded there is absalutely diabolical. A very recent article on this web site featured a little boy who died of starvation deliberately inflicted by his parents.If the little one had been attending a reputable kindergarden his life would have been spared and his suffering avoided,as the staff would have taken immediate action..Working to support your family is not a good enough reason for anyone to pillary caring parents

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A representative of the kindergarten said they plan to examine the nature and content of the complaint before deciding on "the best course of action".

My heart goes out to these parents who are seeking for JUSTICE. I would like to point out what I have picked up from this topic. The kindergarden is already thinking to file bankraptcy, and they are not ashamed to do so.

For acriminal negligence, these parents may win, but for a civil case they may not win at all. .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

ok I am a childcare provider, a nanny, the little ones I have cared for are treasured as if they are my own. The parents who leave their children in my care know with absalute certainty that they are 100 per cent safe. The children are minded in their own homes which to the child is an added bonus as everything around them is faimilier. I am vetted for security purposes and have excellent references which I insist new clients check out meticulously. On average each contract lasts around 3 years full time then parttime as the child or children reach school age.. The young ones grow up no longer in need of care and supervision from myself Some of my most treasured references are written by the adults I once minded

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You can't never get over losing your child and I sympathize with them. However, What could've or should've happened to 25,000 people that died. You cannot change the outcome. Some made good choices and survived and some made bad choices that resulted in death. Nobody in the right mind expected magnitute of once in a 1,000 years tragedy. These parents should let it go and move on with life in a positive way and try to help the community recover.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It was not a once in a thousand year event! For crying out loud why do people keep perpetuating this absolute rubbish, evidenced by the simplest of google searches???!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

".......however apportioning some of the blame upon the childrens parents for having thier children minded there is absalutely diabolical"

Yeah right and saying that the youchien is totally to blame is too. Or saying things like 'where was the assistant teacher' is too. Avoiding the point, that the responsibility lays with parents to be responsible for their children, who in this situation chose to use youchien on occassions to off-lay some of that responsibility at times, is being diabolical. It would seem to me that you want to say parents are diabolical and you a carer, are obviously better. That is diabolical. Personally, I dont want to judge this situation, but am aware that we the foreign community are more aware of these claims than even locals in the area. To me I still hear the pain that is being suffered locally in Ishinomaki. And as for comments being made here about this-everyone with a poiltical agenda.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

oikawaAug. 12, 2011 - 07:12AM JSTIt was not a once in a thousand year event! For crying out loud why do people keep perpetuating this absolute rubbish, evidenced by the simplest of google searches???!!

Ok teacher, when was the last great tsunami, earthquake that was beyond 9.1 in Japan?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Ok teacher, when was the last great tsunami, earthquake that was beyond 9.1 in Japan?

To be fair, I think seismological testing has only been around for a very short time. Archaeologists however have found evidence of similar sized Tsunami hitting Miyagi before (cant find the link right now).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Earthquakes are not the only things that cause tsunami. The largest tsunami in Japan was in 1741 at Sado Island and it wasn't caused by an earthquake. The height was 90 m. And in 1771 there are an 85 m tsunami caused by a 7.4 quake in the Okinawa region. Hokkaido has a history of over 40m tsunami. Generally land sides and volcanic eruptions cause larger tsunami than earthquakes. A Land side in the Hawaiian area can cause a greater tsunami to hit Japan. And, manuals, guidelines and SOPs are there for emergencies to avert panic responses. Why else goes Japan have an earthquake day on the day of the Great Kanto earthquake that kill over 100,000.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It takes a catastrophe to wake everyone up to pay close attention to warnings. Tragic but true. In a perfect world we'd all respond accordingly and appropriately to all early warnings but the natural attitude towards it after many false alarms is to not be as worried as you should.

Hopefully, if anything positive can be taken from this terrible loss amongst a thousand terrible losses, its that the warnings will be heeded at all times.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

At our school the parents complained about the driver's age and they finally replaced him. But this took us threatening to leave the school.

Now, some older drivers may be just as good as younger ones. But, i would expect that a younger one may have common sense which most ojiisans don't. What type of fool leaves an elevated area to drive near the ocern during an tsumani warning. This is common sense 101 that these little kids probably understood more that the driver.

But i don't think it is his fault really. the school is to blame. at some point the teachers were putting the kids on the buses and no one said this is probably a bad idea?

This school should be closed, the teachers fired, and anyone responsbile jailed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@dano

Was the older driver actually endangering anyone's life. Was he actually a poor driver? Or was he just old? Because if it was just a question of his age, he'd have every right to sue the parents and the school for discrimination.

Certainly if that actually was the case (and I don't know the details), and I'd been the headteacher I'd have invited the lot of you to take your kids elsewhere and shown a bit of loyalty to someone I'd chosen to employ.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sfjp330 I don't want to be rude but people like you are really frustrating to deal with, sarcastically calling me a great teacher, when you really don't seem to know much about the subject matter. The size of the earthquake is pretty irrelevant, magnitude is but one factor in determining its effects, and location and movement shape are probably more important. If a 6.5 had hit directly underneath Tokyo the damage would have been unimaginablly worse even though the magnitude was much smaller. Secondly, tsunami of the same size in the last century hit the same area, caused by earthquakes much smaller in magnitude than this one. As I said before just do a simple google search for "sanriku tsunami" and then perhaps you won't ask such silly questions in future.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

many of those commenting in favor of the school saying that nobody can predict such things didn't read the whole article the school was warned 20 minutes ahead of time and ignored this fact.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

oikawaAug. 12, 2011 - 07:31PM JST The size of the earthquake is pretty irrelevant, magnitude is but one factor in determining its effects, and location and movement shape are probably more important. If a 6.5 had hit directly underneath Tokyo the damage would have been unimaginablly worse even though the magnitude was much smaller. Secondly, tsunami of the same size in the last century hit the same area, caused by earthquakes much smaller in magnitude than this one.

If you had 6.5 in downtown Tokyo, there will be a less damage than you believe. Japan has invested heavily in coastal protection and buildings that can withstand tremors. Modern buildings in Japan are designed to absorb the violent sideways shaking that can devastate cities. High-rise buildings can still be damaged, but are more likely to remain standing. The Kobe earthquake in 1995 was a magnitude 6.9 and caused more than 5,000 deaths and injured 36,000 others. The earthquake that wrecked Christchurch in New Zealand last month was a magnitude 6.3 event is similar to your Tokyo example. Around 30 times more energy is released as the magnitude of an earthquake increases one unit, for example from magnitude 8 to 9. Your second answer regarding tsunami,. The earthquake occurred at the relatively shallow depth of 15 miles, meaning much of its energy was released at the seafloor. The shallowness of the quake resulted in more devasting effect. The Pacific plate moves fast in tectonic terms. This leads to the rapid buildup of huge amounts of energy. As the Pacific plate moves down, it sticks to the overhead plate and pulls it down too. Eventually, the join breaks, causing the seafloor to spring upwards several metres.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Back on topic please.

Imagine The Parents ask for a sincere apology and the school knowing they put the children on that Buss comes out with a statement like “A representative of the kindergarten said they plan to examine the nature and content of the complaint before deciding on the best course of action.” this is arrogance to the point of disgracing the dead children, I do not believe some people the person who made this statement should lose the ability to be in charge of anything at all and should be fired Immediately This is like Living through the Death all over again, The school is the defaulting agency which is continuing to drag out the lack of acknowledgement of Children and should be put in Jail.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There was actually 40 minutes of warning-tell me why werent the parents picking up their children from the youchien, when the drive is not even 20minutes? Why was there children still at the youchien 20minutes after the earthquake, why was responsibilty being left to the youchien?? Werent the parents worried? One word-apathy. Which is incredible apathy considering how much and how long that earthquake shook- you cant even start pointing fingers at warning systems and how they are issued with that amount of apathy. I can only think to pray when I realize this.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

tell me why werent the parents picking up their children from the youchien, when the drive is not even 20minutes?

There are many possible reasons, and apathy would not be top of the list.

How about, parents themselves being injured? Trapped in rubble? Having no transport? Roads being blocked with debris, other vehicles trying to evacuate? Having other kids to pick up at elementary school. etc?

I don't know whether the kindergarten contacted the parents to let them know that the children were on the bus headed home, but if that was the case, what else can the parents do but sit and wait? No point rushing to the kindergarten if they've been told their child is not there, and roaming the streets looking for the bus in the evacuation chaos would mean there would be no one at home when the bus delivered the child.

I'm amazed that anyone would assume that parents in that situation would be 'apathetic'. It is indeed incredible.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There was actually 40 minutes of warning-tell me why werent the parents picking up their children from the youchien, when the drive is not even 20minutes? Why was there children still at the youchien 20minutes after the earthquake, why was responsibilty being left to the youchien?? Werent the parents worried? One word-apathy.

One word about this comment-stupidity.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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