Resilience is a trait that transcends boundaries, and one woman in her 90s from the city of Mashiki, Japan has embodied it in the face of the recent earthquake and the rubble caused by the disaster.
Five days after the 6.5 magnitude temblor struck the region, the woman in her 90’s, whose name has yet to be released, was rescued from the wreckage alive. The Mashiki City Fire Department was dispatched to the area to search for survivors and determined that the woman was still alive before she was taken to the hospital for treatment.
That day, Mashiki City Fire Department Chief Takashi Yano said, “This is a miracle that a woman of her age can survive five days in such an extreme environment. We are very happy to see her in this condition.”
The woman was found in a space between concrete debris that was approximately 10 square meters wide and 1.5 meters tall. Officials said she was barely conscious and could paradely move when rescue teams arrived.
The city was declared a “No-Go” zone after the earthquake left disaster in its wake, and over 120,000 people were asked to evacuate their homes as the authorities worked to clear away rubble and rebuild.
The Mashiki woman’s spirit and courage has been met with an outpouring of admiration and is a symbol of hope to citizens devastated by the disaster. People from all over the world have been sending their well wishes to the woman, as many of them have experienced tragedies themselves.
Earthquakes can be extremely difficult to prepare for, and the unexpectedness of such a natural disaster can sometimes be hard to handle. It is heartening to see an elderly woman displaying such a strong will to live. With her help, Mashiki and its people are gradually regaining hope despite the tragedy.