Use awareness of risks to prepare for disasters
In addition to its own continuing aftershocks, the Great East Japan Earthquake has set off many other earthquakes in locations around the country.
Many experts say the unimaginably gigantic main shock of the quake on March 11 dramatically changed the crustal situation of the Japanese archipelago.
The government's Earthquake Research Committee warns that a major earthquake could strike Japan at any time and in any place. Moreover, this state of heightened risk may last for years, the panel says.
Measures to minimize the possible damage from future quakes must be reexamined not only in the quake-hit areas where aftershocks are continuing but in other areas, too.
In just over a month since the March 11 quake, the number of aftershocks measuring magnitude 5.0 or greater topped 400. There were even five quakes recording magnitude 7.0 or greater. Normally, magnitude-5.0 or larger quakes occur about 150 times a year on average in this country.
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Another huge tsunami possible
The reason for the current frequent occurrence of earthquakes is that the main shock of the great earthquake caused the Japanese archipelago to move as much as five meters to the east. Before March 11, the archipelago was being pushed westward from the Pacific side as the Pacific plate was plunging underneath Japan, causing strain to build up.
This huge strain was released in a burst when the main shock hit the country, causing faults across the nation, movement of which had been suppressed until then, to move more easily.
Especially worrisome now is the possibility of another huge tsunami. The crustal situation near the main shock's focal zone has not stabilized yet. Therefore, the possibility of destructive crustal movements causing additional earthquakes is very high.
Quakes of this type, even if they are small in scale, are likely to generate big tsunamis, several seismic experts warned.
In the disaster-hit areas, measures to prevent tsunami damage are now weaker than they were before the great quake, for reasons including the destruction of protective embankments by the March 11 tsunami.
In Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, ground subsidence has been observed in a wide range of areas along the coastline. There are many areas on high ground where tremors have dangerously loosened the soil.
The number of people working near coasts has increased due to reconstruction activities. Some evacuees have left shelters to restart their lives at their homes. In this situation, they must secure evacuation routes for emergencies.
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Entire nation must be ready
Even outside the disaster-hit areas, relatively strong earthquakes have been observed in 16 areas including the Tochigi-Gunma prefectural boundary and Tokyo Bay. The Meteorological Agency and other organizations have been on a special alert in monitoring the situation. Concern is mounting about an earthquake centered directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area. If such an earthquake occurs, it is predicted that about 13,000 deaths would result.
When the main shock of the great earthquake hit on March 11, a huge number of people in the Tokyo area faced difficulty getting home, for instance. Various weak points in the area's disaster preparedness were revealed. Measures to cope with major disasters need to be formulated.
Western Japan is not free from crustal changes. According to the agency, seismic activity at volcanoes from Hokkaido to Kyushu has increased.
Japan is frequently hit by disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons. Without being afraid of them, we should thoroughly prepare to strengthen the nation against future disasters.
Kids in disaster zones need fresh start at school
We have to return to a time when our children can run about the school yard, free from fear.
Although schools are at last being reopened in areas hit by the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami, there remain fears in Fukushima Prefecture about exposure to radioactive materials leaking from the crisis-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Co.
The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry on Tuesday announced safety standards for radiation levels at primary and middle schools and other places. Under the standards, outdoor activities will be restricted if the amount of radiation in the school yard exceeds 3.8 microsieverts per hour.
Levels being monitored at 13 primary and middle schools and kindergartens in three Fukushima Prefecture cities--Fukushima, Koriyama and Date--currently exceed the safety limits. Accordingly, outdoor activities are to be permitted for only about an hour a day.
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Parents' radiation worries
In the same prefecture, even in areas where residents have not been advised to evacuate, an increasing number of schools have refrained from holding outdoor classes since the new term started this month. It is essential for the central government to explain the basis for the safety standards and dispel the people's concerns.
The important thing is to continuously monitor radiation levels at schools and to ensure the children's safety.
The education ministry plans to check the amount of radiation every week at these 13 facilities, where the amount exceeded the safety levels. But many parents of children at other schools must be concerned about the radiation levels in their school yards, too.
The monitoring of radiation levels should be conducted at as many schools as possible, and the results should be made known so parents can feel reassured.
It is also essential to distribute dosimeters among schools as soon as possible to put into place a system under which schools can check radiation levels constantly themselves.
Many children were forced to evacuate their homes and move to new schools in unfamiliar localities due to the nuclear power plant accident. The local governments hosting such children must take great care to ensure they are accepted and are not hurt by harmful rumors.
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Classes resume in tsunami area
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony for the new school year was held earlier this week at many schools along the coast of Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, hit hard by the massive tsunami. School officials have made tremendous efforts to secure space for children by, for instance, borrowing vacant classrooms at other schools.
Some schools are unable to use their kitchens and cannot provide enough meals for children. There are also many areas where mountains of debris are scattered along the roads children use to commute to school. We should ensure the children's safety by operating school buses.
Teachers must be feeling the weight of fatigue. Extra teachers should be recruited to ease their burden.
For instance, if college students who have completed a teacher-training course are utilized as volunteer teachers, they would be able to immediately make an effective contribution. We encourage universities to proactively consider such cooperation.
The resumption of school will offer a good chance for children to regain their psychological equilibrium.
We urge the government to do its utmost in offering manpower and material support to help schools in disaster-affected areas to get back on track.
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