Daijiworld Media Network - Tokyo
Tokyo, Jan 17: Japan is advancing its disaster preparedness with a new satellite-based programme designed to assess structural damage within 2-3 hours of an earthquake by comparing pre- and post-quake satellite images.
The system is effective even during nighttime and adverse weather conditions, making it a reliable tool in disaster response, according to reports from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). The programme is expected to be operational within a few years.
In a related initiative, the cabinet office's disaster management division is taking proactive measures for potential major disasters, including the Nankai Trough megaquake or a Tokyo metropolitan earthquake. Starting next fiscal year, approximately 50 officers will be deployed across prefectures to enhance stockpile management and volunteer coordination during normal times while overseeing damage assessment and evacuation shelter organisation during disasters.
To support this initiative, the cabinet office plans to double its staff of 110 and increase its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, as reported by NHK. The efforts align with the government’s broader objective of establishing a 'Disaster Management Agency' by fiscal year 2026.
Japan's recent disasters, including the Noto Peninsula earthquake, have highlighted challenges such as insufficient municipal stockpiles and delays in setting up evacuation shelters, driving the push for improved disaster readiness.
Japan already has robust emergency systems in place, such as the 'J-Alert' broadcasting system, which delivers critical information during crises, including earthquakes and tsunamis.
Additionally, since 2007, smartphones have been equipped with an earthquake early warning system that sounds alarms seconds before a major quake, allowing people to prepare for evacuation.
This groundbreaking system relies on seismometers and seismic intensity meters installed at nearly 1,690 locations nationwide by the Japan Meteorological Agency and 1,000 more by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention.
These initiatives underscore Japan’s commitment to leading the world in disaster management and preparedness.