Japan survey: 520,000 people to evacuate in advance if mega-quake alert issued
If an earthquake of magnitude 8 or stronger occurs in the Nankai Trough quake's expected hypocenter areas, the government will issue a huge earthquake caution.
Municipalities will then ask residents in areas designated as difficult-to-evacuate in time to take refuge for a week in advance.
Municipalities need to designate beforehand areas subject to requests for advance evacuation.
One type of designated area is where the elderly, or people with disabilities, or others needing special care, will be urged to evacuate, and the other type is where all other residents will be asked to go to.
The Cabinet Office has conducted a questionnaire survey on 707 municipalities from the Kanto region to the Okinawa and Amami regions from June.
The results show that 130 municipalities from Chiba Prefecture to Kagoshima Prefecture have finished designating areas in need of early evacuation, with the number of people to evacuate totaling more than 520,000.
Some 245,600 people will be asked to evacuate in areas where all residents need to take shelter, while the number is about 274,800 in areas where only the elderly and others needing special care are asked to evacuate.
By prefecture, Kochi will have the largest number of evacuees at about 92,100, followed by Miyazaki with about 79,900, and Shizuoka at around 70,200.
About 200 municipalities responded that they are still considering which areas to designate, or have been unable to consider the matter.
The Cabinet Office says it will support municipalities to proceed with area designation efforts, and provide advice.
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Japan survey: 520,000 people to evacuate in advance if mega-quake alert issued
A Japanese government survey has shown that local authorities will request at least 520,000 people to evacuate for a week to brace for a potential tsunami if Nankai Trough Earthquake temporary information is issued for a possible mega-quake occurring along the Pacific. If an earthquake of magnitude 8 or stronger occurs in the Nankai Trough quake's expected hypocenter areas, the government will issue a huge earthquake caution. Municipalities will then ask residents in areas designated as difficult-to-evacuate in time to take refuge for a week in advance. Municipalities need to designate beforehand areas subject to requests for advance evacuation. One type of designated area is where the elderly, or people with disabilities, or others needing special care, will be urged to evacuate, and the other type is where all other residents will be asked to go to. The Cabinet Office has conducted a questionnaire survey on 707 municipalities from the Kanto region to the Okinawa and Amami regions from June. The results show that 130 municipalities from Chiba Prefecture to Kagoshima Prefecture have finished designating areas in need of early evacuation, with the number of people to evacuate totaling more than 520,000. Some 245,600 people will be asked to evacuate in areas where all residents need to take shelter, while the number is about 274,800 in areas where only the elderly and others needing special care are asked to evacuate. By prefecture, Kochi will have the largest number of evacuees at about 92,100, followed by Miyazaki with about 79,900, and Shizuoka at around 70,200. About 200 municipalities responded that they are still considering which areas to designate, or have been unable to consider the matter. The Cabinet Office says it will support municipalities to proceed with area designation efforts, and provide advice.
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