This article is from page 9 of the 2011-03-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
THE Clareman caught up in the earthquake and tsunami tragedy in Japan has re-iterated his intention to stay living and working in the country, despite the decision of many other foreign nationals to leave because of nuclear meltdown fears.
Thirty-six-year-old David O’Donoghue from Shannon, who has been in Japan for the past six years was made homeless when a tsunami hit Kamasu City, where he lives and works as a teacher.
“The Irish embassy have been advising practicality in the situation,” O’Donoghue told The Clare People this Monday. “The French jumped the gun in providing two planes last week to get people out, while the international media have been dramatising the situation.
“The situation is that things have become quite upbeat and positive over the pat few days, regarding the reactor situation in Fukushima. There was and remains trepidation and some fear, people are anxious but composed,” he added.
O’Donoghue was teaching when the disaster that destroyed his apartment struck, which rendered him homeless and living with friends until finding alternative accommodation this week.
“I’m back teaching as of last Friday,” he revealed, “but the national school system is off for the time being. We still have no water and won’t have water for three months, that’s the expectation. There’s well water and water supplies have been supplied by the Japanese self-defence forces.
“It has devastated the country in many respects and what the emergency services are doing now is going step by step to repair any damage that there is. Even after only one week the change in my home town is astonishing.
“A lot of the electricity poles and telephone poles that collapsed or were teetering have been put back. They have made huge repairs in one week. There is huge progress being made. Emergency crews have been working non-stop 24 seven,” he added.