福島縣南相馬市居民組織搜索隊

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
福島県南相馬市では、震災で、１０００人を超える住民の行方が分からなくなっていますが、福島第一原発の事故の影響で自衛隊の捜索も十分に進んでいません。こうしたなか、屋内退避の対象になっている市の中心部で地元の消防団や住民が自主的な捜索隊を作り、行方不明者を捜す活動を続けています。
南相馬市では、今回の震災でこれまでに３６８人の遺体が収容されましたが、家族などから捜索願が出されている１１０６人の行方が今も分かっていません。しかし、福島第一原発の事故の影響で市の南部は避難指示や屋内退避の対象になっていて、自衛隊の捜索も十分に進んでいません。こうしたなかで、屋内待避の対象になっている市の中心部の原町区では、地元の消防団や住民のうち、避難せずに残ったり、いったん避難したあと戻ってきたりしたおよそ５０人が自主的な捜索隊を作って行方不明者を捜す活動を続けています。５日も津波の被害が激しかった沿岸部を中心に津波で壊れた建物のがれきを取り除いたり、住宅の中に入ったりしながら、８時間にわたって捜索しました。５日は行方不明者は発見できませんでしたが、これまでの捜索で１０人以上を見つけ家族の元に届けたということです。地元の消防団の長澤初男さんは「屋内退避エリアなので心配だが、行方不明者が大勢残っているので、みんなで一致団結して早く見つけたい」と話しています。
(試譯文)

Because of the accident at the first nuclear power plant in Fukushima that was caused by the earthquake, the searching done by the Self Defense Forces could not be advanced deep enough even though the whereabouts of the over 1000 resident in Fukushima Prefecture south Soma City was not known. In response, at the central portion of the city that was the target of the house sheltering, local fire fighting group and residents established an independent searching party, and the activity to search for missing person was continued.

In south Soma city in the present earthquake, the remains of 368 people had been recovered, 1106 people were reported missing by family members etc and their whereabouts was unknown. However, because of the accident at the number one nuclear plant in Fukushima, residents at southern part of the city had became recipients of the evacuation directive to seek home sheltering; and the searching by the Self Defense Forces was not advancing far enough. In reponse, at the city center portion of the Haramchi ward that was the target of house sheltering, local fire-fighting team members and local residents including those who had not evacuated and stayed, and those who had once sought shelter but had returned, established a 50-people independent searching party to continue looking for the missing person. On the 5th, using the sea-shore as the central point where the damage done by the tsunami was serious, they removed the rubbles in the damaged buildings and entered the buildings; they searched for 8 hours. On the 5th, although unable to find any missing person, over ten bodies were found and delivered back to their own family. Hatsuo Nagasawa of the local fire fighting group said that "There is worry for those in the house shelter area, and many people are still missing, we are united and hope to find them early".

Instead of waiting for government help, local residents are helping themselves.