Tokyo: Measures against predicted epicentral earthquake a pressing issue

There is an urgent need to implement strategy in case of a large-scale earthquake with an epicenter near the Tokyo metropolitan area.

According to information recently released by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, some 10 percent or about 300,000 buildings in Tokyo are predicted to collapse or burn down, with casualties reaching as high as 9,700, in the case of a magnitude-7.3 quake in northern Tokyo Bay. The figures were obtained through computer simulations that took into consideration the latest data from the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.

The most serious problem for the metro area is said to be fire. If a major temblor were to hit at 6 p.m. on a dry winter day with strong winds, close to 190,000 homes -- especially in areas with high concentrations of wooden residences in the eastern section of Tokyo's 23 wards -- would go up in flames, and some 4,100 people would be killed in the fires. As it currently stands, the aging local population and the complicated issue of personal rights make it difficult to make progress towards improved fireproofing of the area. Read More

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