As the fifth anniversary of the March 2011 Tohoku disasters approaches, a survey shows that more than 70 percent of people in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures remain overwhelmed when recalling the days just after the massive earthquake and tsunami.

The questionnaire, conducted by Kyodo News in December and released Sunday, covered 300 people — 100 from each prefecture — in one-on-one interviews. All lived in coastal areas that were engulfed by tsunami and now live in either temporary or public housing for disaster victims or have rebuilt their homes.

Asked if it still hurts to recall the days after the disasters, 26.3 percent, or 79 people, said it frequently does, while 46.3 percent said it is sometimes painful.