Japan Revises Measures for Possible Megaquake in Tokyo Area

Tokyo, June 12 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Friday decided to revise its basic plan that outlines measures to be taken over the next decade in preparation for a possible powerful earthquake occurring directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area. In the revised plan, the government includes a target to reduce the number of deaths and the number of buildings destroyed or burned down due to the earthquake to half or less of the latest estimates, released in December 2025, of up to 18,000 and around 400,000, respectively. It also sets a goal to install seismic circuit breakers, which cut off power upon sensing tremors, at almost all households in Tokyo and nine prefectures in and around the Kanto eastern Japan region covered by the plan by fiscal 2035, up from 20 pct in fiscal 2024. This is the first revision of the plan since 2015. The previous plan aimed at “roughly halving” the number of deaths and the number of destroyed or burned buildings. This time, the government raised the target to “reducing to half or less.” To achieve the new target, the government increased the number of specific policy goals outlined in the plan from 47 to 189, including the target on the installation of seismic circuit breakers. Since about 70 pct of earthquake-related damage is caused by fires, the government aims to boost measures to prevent fires. To raise public awareness of disaster preparedness, the plan sets a new target to expand the proportion of homes that stockpile at least three days’ worth of food from 60 pct in fiscal 2025 to 100 pct. It also aims for a 100 pct rate of securing furniture. As the number of shelters in the Tokyo metropolitan area is expected to fall short, the plan promotes sheltering at home. It also sets a goal of ensuring that disaster drills are conducted at least once a year in all condominium buildings. In addition, the government aims to achieve completion of business continuity plans by 100 pct of major firms and 80 pct of midsize companies. Regarding measures for people who may have difficulties returning home after a disaster, the plan also includes securing temporary accommodation facilities and providing information support to those who try to go home on foot. The plan also outlines a policy for the government to annually track the progress of these numerical targets and carry out follow-up measures. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]