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Remains of 104 Tohoku disaster victims still not identified

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The National Police Agency says that the remains of 104 victims of the March 11, 2011 disaster in the Tohoku region have yet to be identified.

The NPA collated the information from prefectural police departments in the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. Fuji TV reported that the remains of 70 people in Iwate, 33 in Miyagi and one in Fukushima, still have not been identified.

Overall, more than 2,500 victims remain missing. Of the missing people, Miyagi has the most at 1,394, followed by Iwate with 1,205 and 211 in Fukushima. Local police and coast guard members still conduct searches on the 11th day of each month but no bodies have been found this year.

NPA officials said they are trying to identify the remains through DNA matches and facial sketches. A spokesman said such techniques had helped the NPA identify 252 bodies in the past.

Initially, police relied on physical features and personal belongings to identify the remains of disaster victims, but as time passes, DNA has become the preferred method, the NPA spokesman said.

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3 Comments
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What do they do with them? Have them on ice?

I thought they only stored them a month or couple months and then cremated them. (Though I imagined they kept a DNA record and photos for id-ing). Seems like this kind of infor could be included in the story...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I think this is too little too late. They are dead, they were probably very old and had no more family and no one living, relatives etc..had speaking relations with them, etc...let them rest in peace and get on with HELPING THE LIVING in TOHOKU etc...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I think perhaps there should be a shrine to the memory of these Unknowns, and they should be lain to rest on hallowed ground...perhaps on as high of ground as can be found so that a future tsunami cannot disturb their rest. It's almost 3 years since 3/11. It's pretty clear their families will never be found. It's time to deal with them in a dignified and respectful manner.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

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