Residents plan to preserve rotting disaster-stricken vehicles 35 years after the large pyroclastic flow at Unzen and Mt. Fugen

In an effort to preserve the memory of the massive pyroclastic flow at Mount Fugen in Unzen on June 3, 1991, which killed 43 people, work is underway to preserve six fire, police, news, and taxi vehicles at the disaster site in Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Construction began on the 10th of this month, and a nearly completed image was unveiled on the 13th.

This work is being carried out by the ``Society for Preserving Unzendake Pyroclastic Flow Damaged Vehicles'' (chairman: Tatsuya Anami), which was formed in August 2025 by local residents and members of the media.

Initially, it was scheduled to be completed in time for June 3rd of this year, the 35th anniversary of the Great Pyroclastic Flow, but due to the deteriorating situation in Iran, crude oil-based rust inhibitors were not available, and the project was postponed.

For this work, they commissioned Restoration Research Institute 21 (Tokyo), which works to preserve works of art, to remove dust and other debris from the vehicle and apply a rust-preventing agent to prevent further weathering.

Kitakami, where the fire brigade station was located...