The Yomiuri Shimbun Japan has been reminded once again that it is an earthquake-prone archipelago.

A powerful jolt rattled the Kumamoto area. Thursday’s quake registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Mashiki, Kumamoto Prefecture, while lower 6 was measured in the city of Kumamoto and other locations.

The quake killed nine people and injured many others. The government has set up an emergency headquarters to respond to the disaster. We urge the government to do everything in its power to assess the damage from the quake and carry out rescue and relief efforts in coordination with relevant municipal governments.

Previously, only three quakes — the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake — were on record as having registered a seismic intensity of 7.

The Richter-scale magnitude of the Kumamoto quake was 6.5. It was much lower than that of the magnitude-9 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, the intensity was 7 because the Kumamoto quake struck inland at a shallow depth.

Many structures collapsed and roads sagged in Mashiki, Kumamoto city and other locations. Water, power and other lifeline utilities were damaged over a wider area.

Many cases of people being trapped under collapsed structures were reported. The quake occurred at night, hampering authorities' efforts to grasp a complete picture of the damage. Fire and other disaster management personnel must speed up work to check whether any people have been left stranded.

Frequent aftershocks are distinct in this Kumamoto quake. More than 120 aftershocks were recorded in the 12 hours after the first quake. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that strong aftershocks measuring lower 6 could last for about a week.

Prevent secondary disaster

Actions to protect people’s lives are essential. Bad weather is expected in the region this weekend. Heavy rain could lead damaged buildings and loose ground to collapse. A secondary disaster must be prevented.

Top priority must be placed on ensuring safe places of refuge. Not a small number of evacuees are spending the night in the open air or in their vehicles for reasons such as power outages at evacuation facilities and fears of aftershocks.

Deterioration in health conditions of those affected by the quake is a concern. The government and relevant municipalities must sufficiently supply blankets and other items to protect against the cold as well as drinking water and food.

A Kyushu Shinkansen train, which was not in service when the quake struck, saw all six cars derailed. A thorough probe is needed into the connection between the quake’s shock and the derailment. If the bullet train had been in service, heavy casualties could have been caused.

The vicinity of Mashiki, where the quake reached the intensity of 7, sits on the intersection of two active faults. The government’s Earthquake Research Committee had predicted a high possibility of an earthquake occurring directly beneath that area.

Were measures to improve the quake resistance of structures and lifeline utilities sufficient? Were there any problems with the current evacuation system? Examining such matters is essential.

Concerns have been voiced over a massive earthquake originating along the Nankai Trough and a quake occurring directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area. Disaster management preparations for relevant areas should be rechekced.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2016)

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