宮城県石巻市有悼念海嘯死難者活動

Recently the NHK News reported the following:
宮城県石巻市で、伝統の夏祭り「石巻川開き祭り」が開かれ、ことしは東日本大震災の犠牲者を追悼するため１万個の灯籠が川に流されました。
「石巻川開き祭り」は、地元を流れる北上川の恵みに感謝する伝統の夏祭りで、ことしは規模を縮小したうえで、震災の犠牲者への供養と復興への願いを込めて開かれました。石巻市の中心部を流れ、津波がさかのぼって周辺の地区に大きな被害を出した旧北上川の近くで、供養祭が開かれ、多くの人が訪れて震災で犠牲になった人に祈りをささげていました。また、亡くなった家族などの名前を書いた１万個の灯籠が川に流され、柔らかな明かりが薄暗い中に浮かび上がりました。石巻市では、震災で亡くなった人が２９日の時点で、３１４９人に上り、今もおよそ９００人の行方が分かっていません。灯籠を見つめていた３０代の女性は「子どもたちの面倒をよく見てくれた母が津波で亡くなり、灯籠に名前を書きました。子どもたちの成長を見守っていてほしいです」と話していました。石巻川開き祭りは８月１日も開かれ、花火が打ち上げられることになっています。
(試譯文)
The traditional Summer Festival, the "Ishinomaki River opening festival" was opened in Miyagi Prefecture Ishinomaki City to mourn the victims of the East Japan great earthquake this year; 10,000 floating lanterns were put into the river.
"Ishinomaki River opening festival" as the traditional summer festival that expressed gratitude to the blessing of Kitakami River that flowed through locally had its scale reduced this year; it was opened to making prayers to the earthquake victims and making wishes for the revival. The festival service was held near old Kitakami River that flowed through the central part of Ishinomaki City; during the tsunami water flowed back and had left much destruction behind at the surrounding districts. A lot of people had visited, prayers were offered to the people who were sacrificed due to the earthquake. Moreover, 10,000 floating lanterns that had written with the name of the died family member etc. were thrown into the river, and it floated with soft light amidst the dim surrounding. The number of people who had died in the earthquake went up to 3149 on the 29th, and at this moment in Ishinomaki City the whereabouts of some 900 people were not known. A woman in her thirties who was staring at the lantern said ｢A mother who often saw children's troubles had died in the tsunami, and the name is written in the lantern. The wish is for her to watch over children's growing up｣. The "Ishinomaki River opening festival" was supposed to be held on August 1, and fireworks would be launched.

It is a sad story to hear that in this area over 3,000 people had died and 900 people were missing.