The March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused a big loss of lives and property. It also left a large amount of debris, creating a headache for local governments in the devastated region. An estimated 24.9 million tons of debris exist in the three most affected prefectures — 16 million tons in Miyagi, 6 million tons in Iwate and 2.9 million tons in Fukushima.
The amount in Miyagi Prefecture alone is estimated to be more than the 14 million tons of debris left by the 1995 Kobe earthquake; disposal of that debris took three years.
In addition, the tsunami washed away many cars and caused many boats to run aground. Roads and bridges were damaged. This debris hampers reconstruction efforts. Disposal is so slow that securing land for construction of fabricated houses and storing reconstruction materials is expected to be difficult.