More volcanoes across Japan, including the country's highest peak Mount Fuji, are in danger of becoming active after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, a panel warned.
The Cabinet Office investigative committee concluded its first proposal on May 16 on how to deal with large-scale eruptions, recommending the central government to take measures such as strengthening monitoring systems and drawing out evacuation plans at an early date. The government is set to establish policies based on the proposal to tackle the issue as early as fiscal 2013.
The proposal was made based on the assumption that a total of 100 million to several billion cubic meters of lava and ash spout out during a large-scale eruption. One hundred million cubic meters of volcanic lava and ash could fill up Tokyo Dome some 80 times. In addition to damages from lava flows and pyroclastic flows, one to two centimeters of ash could seriously affect road traffic.
However, out of 47 volcanoes across the country that the Meteorological Agency regularly monitors, the surrounding municipalities of 10 haven't prepared any hazard maps.
The committee requested these municipalities to create hazard maps as early as possible while granting local governors and mayors authority to issue evacuation orders to respond quickly in case of large-scale eruptions.
To improve monitoring systems, the committee requested the central government to consider an arrangement to make full use of knowledge from experts at institutions and organizations. Furthermore, noting that it will be difficult for residents to evacuate all at once right after ash starts to fall and pyroclastic flows hit their neighborhoods, it proposed gradually extending evacuation areas so that residents can be smoothly led to safety. To do so, the committee said the government should secure various means of evacuation and consider traffic regulations.
"Japan is a volcano-prone country, but measures for disaster prevention have been progressing slowly," said Toshitsugu Fujii, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo who serves as chair of the committee. "Mount Fuji, for example, shows no signs of eruption at the moment, and it hasn't erupted for 300 years. But the mountain could erupt at any time," he warned.
source:
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130517p2a00m0na008000c.html
The Cabinet Office investigative committee concluded its first proposal on May 16 on how to deal with large-scale eruptions, recommending the central government to take measures such as strengthening monitoring systems and drawing out evacuation plans at an early date. The government is set to establish policies based on the proposal to tackle the issue as early as fiscal 2013.
The proposal was made based on the assumption that a total of 100 million to several billion cubic meters of lava and ash spout out during a large-scale eruption. One hundred million cubic meters of volcanic lava and ash could fill up Tokyo Dome some 80 times. In addition to damages from lava flows and pyroclastic flows, one to two centimeters of ash could seriously affect road traffic.
However, out of 47 volcanoes across the country that the Meteorological Agency regularly monitors, the surrounding municipalities of 10 haven't prepared any hazard maps.
The committee requested these municipalities to create hazard maps as early as possible while granting local governors and mayors authority to issue evacuation orders to respond quickly in case of large-scale eruptions.
To improve monitoring systems, the committee requested the central government to consider an arrangement to make full use of knowledge from experts at institutions and organizations. Furthermore, noting that it will be difficult for residents to evacuate all at once right after ash starts to fall and pyroclastic flows hit their neighborhoods, it proposed gradually extending evacuation areas so that residents can be smoothly led to safety. To do so, the committee said the government should secure various means of evacuation and consider traffic regulations.
"Japan is a volcano-prone country, but measures for disaster prevention have been progressing slowly," said Toshitsugu Fujii, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo who serves as chair of the committee. "Mount Fuji, for example, shows no signs of eruption at the moment, and it hasn't erupted for 300 years. But the mountain could erupt at any time," he warned.
source:
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130517p2a00m0na008000c.html
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