EDITORIAL | Is Japan Ready for Multiple Disasters Happening All at Once?

Typhoon No 10 (Shanshan), made landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture on August 29 with the strongest force level on record. After that, it moved across western Japan at a very slow speed. As it moved, its heavy rain and strong winds caused damage over a wide area of ​​the Japanese archipelago. We must continue to do everything we can to save lives in such disasters. 

September 1 marked Disaster Prevention Day, and the week ending September 5 was Disaster Prevention Week. 

Many people have no doubt been preparing for typhoons and heavy rains. But those are not the only disasters we face. Everyone should confirm that they have made the greatest possible preparations and taken all possible actions to protect their lives from landslides and flooding due to overflowing rivers. 

Typhoon Shanshan

The most urgent issue during this year's Disaster Prevention Week has been to minimize the damage caused by Typhoon Shanshan.

Typhoon Shanshan continued to develop and strengthen until it was just about to make landfall. Even after reaching land, the typhoon moved slowly and stayed over the Japanese islands for a long time. 

Conditions similar to the latter portion of the rainy season developed. That is when a seasonal rain front remains stationary and warm air containing enormous amounts of water vapor flows into the Japanese archipelago from the south. Therefore, in addition to violent storms around the typhoon's periphery, there was record-breaking rainfall. And that rainfall covered a wide swath of Japan, including areas far from the typhoon's center, like the Tokai and Kanto regions. 

Eventually, the force of the typhoon weakened and it was reclassified as a tropical depression. Nevertheless, the conditions bringing heavy rain to a wide area continued. With it, the risk of landslides and river flooding became further elevated. In such cases, every person must act in such a way as to protect our lives.

Disasters Facing Dual Conditions Not Unusual

The government canceled the comprehensive disaster drill scheduled for September 1. This year’s drill was supposed to simulate an earthquake in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and Japan Trench. It was unavoidable that the exercise was canceled since officials needed to focus on the real disaster risks created by Typhoon Shanshan.

Meanwhile, disaster responses also need to consider what happens if a large typhoon makes landfall in Japan at the same time there is a large-scale earthquake.

Disaster Prevention Day takes place on September 1 to commemorate the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. That earthquake caused tremendous damage. One reason was that, at the same time, a typhoon in the Japan Sea spawned high winds. 

The earthquake occurred just as people were cooking their noon meals over open flames. Multiple fires broke out in the wake of the earthquake, spread by the fierce winds. In turn, those created a fire tornado with swirling flames. Of the 105,000 people who died, 92,000 of the deaths were due to fire-related causes. 

Earthquakes and Heavy Rain, a Deadly Combination

Miyazaki Prefecture suffered heavy damage from an August 8 offshore earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of close to 6 on the Japanese intensity scale of 7. Soon thereafter, Miyazaki was also hit by torrential rains from Typhoon Shanshan. 

Furthermore, Shanshan hit that area in the period from August 8 to August 15. This corresponded with the period of a "Massive Earthquake Advisory" issued for a possible Nankai Trough earthquake after the August 8 quake. Meanwhile, that typhoon developed in seas near Japan and then approached the Kanto region. 

When multiple disasters occur simultaneously or in succession, the damage can be on orders of magnitude greater than with a single event. In Japan today, the risk of an earthquake in unstable areas like the Nankai Trough is increasing. Moreover, it would not be surprising if a major earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher were to occur anywhere, at any time. 

Prepare for Compound Disasters

Moreover, the severity of weather is increasing, stemming from global warming. Year after year, typhoons and heavy rains are leading to severe flooding and heavy damage. 

We need to share the recognition that we now find ourselves in a situation where the risk of a "compound disaster" is extremely high. In other words, we are likely to see a major earthquake and meteorological disaster occuring at the same time. Therefore, the national and local governments and the public must work together to minimize associated risks.

Indeed, to emphasize this point, a separate day should be set aside to prepare for meteorological disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains. The government, local governments, and citizens should also work together to minimize risks from events of that kind.

From Fire to Water 

Disaster Prevention Day has traditionally focused on awareness-raising activities in preparation for a major earthquake. In addition, November 5 is "Tsunami Disaster Prevention Day" (World Tsunami Awareness Day). And starting in 2024, August 26th is "Volcano Disaster Prevention Day." 

There is a clear need for the national government, local governments, and the public to work together to prepare for weather-related disasters, which are the most frequent forms of disaster and affect every one of us.

Right now, June 1 is both "Weather Memorial Day" and the point when the Japanese archipelago enters the rainy season. Why not designate it instead as "Weather and Disaster Prevention Day?" That could help raise awareness and institutionalize drills that simulate large-scale flood damage. Many people would also have a new opportunity to learn and think about global climate change. 

Saving Lives

There are many examples of how everyday training led to behavior that saved the lives of local residents. One example is evacuations during the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the heavy rains that hit Western Japan in 2018.

Although it is impossible to be fully prepared for every compound disaster, repetitive training that assumes scenarios involving earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and volcanic eruptions will help reduce the compound risks. If such training becomes a regular practice, it will surely help lead to improved response capabilities. It will also help save the lives of future generations.

An iron rule of disaster prevention is "doing what can be done at this point." 

The establishment of a "Weather and Disaster Prevention Day" would not require huge expenditures and would be one of the most cost-effective disaster prevention measures imaginable.

It can be done and should be done, at once.

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun