Police have conducted a fresh search for victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami along the coastal waters of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.
The search comes ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011.
Police say 1,213 people remain unaccounted for in Miyagi Prefecture alone.
More than 10 people, including police officers from Ishinomaki Police Station, searched for remains on Ajishima Island and its surrounding waters on Monday.
Before starting the operation, the searchers turned toward the sea and observed a moment of silence for the victims.
They dug into the sand and rocks at the beach, and used a specially equipped boat to look for clues under water.
They found nothing new, but police say the search will continue.
Chiba Tomohiro, an official at the Ishinomaki Police Station, noted that 15 years have passed since the disaster, and that the circumstances in the area have changed significantly.
But he says they will try to find as many clues as possible that could lead to locating the victims, as requested by the bereaved families.
