Kumamoto Quake Highlights Difficulties Aiding Car Evacuees

Kumamoto, Aug. 10 (Jiji Press)–A massive earthquake that rocked the southwestern Japan prefecture of Kumamoto two weeks ago has highlighted difficulties supporting evacuees who opt to stay in their vehicles, rather than at evacuation centers or their own homes. Local municipalities are struggling to get an accurate picture of the number and health condition of such evacuees. Many have designated special areas and guidelines for such people, but there is a limit to the aid they can provide. Setsuko Yamano, an 83-year-old resident of the town of Hikawa, stayed in her car near her home for a few days after the 7.1-magnitude temblor struck on July 28. “I was scared of burglary, as I can’t lock my front door and windows” due to the quake damage, she said. “I saw someone I didn’t know ringing the doorbell, who I think was checking to see whether anyone was at home.” Although there are serious health risks to staying in cars, such as heatstroke and the so-called economy class syndrome, many people have opted for it. A survey taken after the quake disaster that hit the prefecture 10 years ago showed that 47.2 pct of respondents spent the longest period during their evacuation in their vehicles. With multiple answers allowed, 79.1 pct said that they thought being inside vehicles was the safest evacuation option because of aftershocks. In April this year, the city of Kumamoto released guidelines on aid provided to evacuees living in their vehicles. Based on the guidelines, the city set up two areas for such evacuees, which were equipped with toilets and water supply facilities, following last month’s quake. Only up to 70 vehicles were parked in the areas, however, less than a third of the maximum capacity. “We believe that many people were sleeping in their cars near their homes,” a city government official said. “We hope to make the guidelines more widely known.” “As evacuees have different needs, I’m not going to reject (the option of) living in cars” despite the risks, Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura said. “We’ll make repeated visits to ensure that necessary information and supplies are delivered to evacuees who have chosen to stay in their vehicles, so that they won’t be left behind (in aid efforts).” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]