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Japan remembers deadly Kobe quake victims

KOBE (Japan): Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Monday joined survivors of Kobe's devastating 1995 earthquake to mourn for more than 6,000 people killed in one of the country's worst natural disasters.

Obuchi, attending a government-sponsored memorial service with families of the victims on the fifth anniversary of the quake, promised continued measures to help the struggling local community and economy recover from its lingering wounds.

"There are still those who suffer from the dark, painful memories and are unable to start a new life...The government will continue to take renovation measures and offer aid to victims who are still in need," Obuchi said.

Kobe's advisory panel on renovation said last week that infrastructure has been largely rebuilt in the western port city, but work was still needed to revive the local economy.

Government statistics show employment in Kobe has still not recovered to national levels, with the country's prolonged economic slump adding to the city's burden.

A recent newspaper poll of 5,000 people affected by the quake showed that one in 10 saw their income drop by around 10 percent, while one in five said they cannot make ends meet.

The central government's task force on reconstruction set up soon after the quake will disband next month, but officials said a separate committee will be formed to continue offering help to residents.

SURVIVORS RECALL ANGUISH

Yoshie Terumoto, 38, who lost her grandmother in the quake, said she still recalls the day when she hoped she had wings that would fly her to her loved ones at home.

"Will there ever come a day when the sadness goes away?" she asked in a televised speech before 540 other quake survivors at the memorial service. "But we must go forward and work on the renovation of our souls."

Earlier on Monday, some 3,000 people stood silently in a city park where 6,432 candles flickered in bamboo cups -- one for every person who died after the massive quake struck in the early hours of January 17, 1995.-Reuters