Coast of Japan, the tsunami damaged in 2011, protected the 12-meter wall

• Coast of Japan, shielded 12-meter wall damaged tsunami in 2011

It has been seven years after the catastrophe caused by the earthquake and tsunami that destroyed several towns in the north-east coast of Japan. Local residents rebuilding their homes, and at the same time getting used to the new giant structures - they erected to enclose the people from future disasters.

One of the worst natural disasters in history took the lives of almost 18,000 people went missing about 2, 5000, and Japan was damaged in the amount of 309 billion dollars.

Reuters photographer Kim Kyung-Hoon visited in several cities to illuminate how to cope with the consequences of the disaster the inhabitants of the coastal strip, seven years later.

"Wall stop the tsunami and will not allow them to flood the coast. Even if a tsunami will be higher, the wall still prevent flooding and give more time to evacuate. "

Hiroyasu Kawai, a researcher at the Institute of harbors and airports in Yokosuka, near Tokyo

During the earthquake in 2011, a fisherman Atsushi Fujita, as usual, working on the beach, when suddenly a huge black wave covered his city, Rikuzentakatu, killing nearly 2 million people.

Since then, the city was built around a huge wall. "It seems as if we are in prison - even though we did not do anything wrong," - shared his impressions Fujita.

Residential and commercial buildings over the sea wall in the port town of Miyako.

March 2011: tsunami covered street in Miyako. Photo: Mainichi Shimbun (Mainichi Shimbun) for Reuters.

Vending machines at the wall in the Gulf of Hirota in Rikuzentakate. 12-meter-high concrete wall replaced by a four-meter breakwater, flooded during the tsunami.

2011: the effects of the disaster in Rikuzentakate. Photo: Aly Song (Aly Song) for Reuters.

The earthquake and tsunami in some areas reaches 30 meters in height, killed almost 18,000 people throughout Japan and caused a major accident at the power plant in Fukushima.

Many people initially welcomed the establishment of the wall, but over time began to express more dissatisfaction, complaining, inter alia, that to them almost not consulted at the planning stage - for this reason today walling difficult residential and commercial construction.

The ship washed up on the streets of Kesennuma in 2011. Photo: Kyodo (Kyodo) for Reuters.

"Miracle Pine ', symbolizing hope and recovery - she survived the tsunami of 2011 - today stands near a damaged building before the newly erected wall in Rikuzentakate.

After the disaster, some cities have banned the construction of housing in a flat area near the coast, and residents moved to higher ground.

Many people complain that the walls deterred tourists.

"Once upon a time we went here with the kids and enjoy the spectacular views of the ocean and bays. Today, of all that there's nothing left. "

Reiko Iijima, a tourist from Central Japan

The construction of the wall to replace the flooded tsunami breakwaters. The total length of the walls is about 400 kilometers, and the construction cost at 9, 1 billion dollars.

Dawn on the background of building a wall on the beach in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.

Fisherman Fujita said that the tsunami even improved the fishing of oysters in the affected area, having washed the accumulated rainfall and shake the seabed. However, not so long ago erected a wall may have a negative impact on future production, since they can block the natural flow of water from the land.