It’s been 21⁄2 years since a tsunami devastated the northern coast of Japan, sending debris that continues to wash up on island beaches.
Health officials are assessing the contents of a 4-foot gas cylinder, which has Japanese writing on it, that was removed from Lanikai Beach on Thursday afternoon.
Laura Stevens, Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman, said 1,233 possible tsunami items have been reported on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s disaster debris site since late December 2011 following the tsunami that hit Fukushima in March of that year.
"Not all debris that reaches our shore can be confirmed from the 2011 Japan tsunami event," Stevens said.
Stevens said that of the items reported to the NOAA disaster debris site, 200 have been from Hawaii.
"Only 12 items from Hawaii have been confirmed by the consulate general of Japan in Honolulu," Stevens said.
The tsunami-related item reported Thursday was a blue plastic bin that had a live bird inside.
Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said firefighters and the agency’s hazard materials crew were dispatched to a rocky portion of the beach in Kailua off Mokulua Drive just before 9:30 a.m. Thursday to investigate the report.
Seelig said fire investigators determined that there was nothing leaking from the cylinder. Residents told fire officials that the cylinder may have been on the beach for the past three weeks.
The cylinder was reported to be approximately 4 feet long by 18 inches wide, weighing 150 pounds.
A resident riding his bicycle Thursday reported it to the Honolulu Fire Department.
Hawaii is among five western states that received $250,000 each after Japan provided $5 million for cleanup of debris. NOAA is administering the fund.
Seelig said residents should report anything they find washing up on island beaches as soon as possible so officials can safely remove it.
Large amounts of marine debris can be reported to the department by calling 587-0400 or emailing a photo of the debris to DLNR.marine.debris@hawaii.gov and DisasterDebris@noaa.gov. However, access to the NOAA website might be limited due to the federal government shutdown.
