災害列島 避難準備と救援体制は万全に

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 12, 2009)
Sound preparations a must for disasters
災害列島　避難準備と救援体制は万全に（8月12日付・読売社説）

The combination of a typhoon and an earthquake reminds us afresh that Japan is an archipelago of disasters.
　日本は災害列島、と改めて思い知らされた。

First, heavy rains associated with Typhoon No. 9 hit various places in western Japan. As the typhoon moved east, an earthquake with an intensity of lower 6 on the Japanese scale of 7 occurred in the Tokai region, which fell in the path of the typhoon, with its focus under Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture.
　まず、台風９号に伴う豪雨が西日本の各地を襲った。この台風が東へ向かうと、今度は、進路に当たる東海地方で、最大震度６弱の静岡沖地震が起きた。

It was found that Tuesday's quake was not related to the much-feared expected major Tokai earthquake. However, the damages done by the two disasters are serious. We hope the central and local governments involved do their best in rescue and restoration efforts.
　当初懸念された巨大地震「東海地震」との関連はない、と判明したが、どちらも被害は深刻だ。政府と関係自治体は、救援と復旧に全力を挙げてもらいたい。

The heavy rains caused flooding of rivers and landslides in many places. The number of people dead or missing reached 30 in Hyogo Prefecture and surrounding areas. Many houses were buried by landslides.
　豪雨では、各地で河川が増水し土砂崩れが起きた。死者、不明者は兵庫県などで２７人に達する。土砂で埋まった住宅も多い。

In the Shizuoka Prefecture earthquake, a violent tremor of lower 6 in intensity was recorded in several cities in the prefecture. Many injuries were reported, both minor and serious, including people hurt in neighboring Kanagawa and Aichi prefectures as well as Tokyo.
　静岡沖地震では、静岡県で震度６弱の激しい揺れが記録され、隣接の神奈川県を含め、多くの人が重軽傷を負った。

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Complex disaster

As rainfall from Typhoon No. 9 before the quake made the ground loose, the quake caused landslides in several places, apparently broadening and combining the impact of the two disasters.
　地震前から台風９号による降雨があり、緩んだ地盤が各所で崩れる「複合災害」も起きた。

In particular, the collapse of part of the Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture is expected to seriously affect the nation's distribution system.
特に静岡県内の東名高速道路での路面崩落は、物流への影響が大きい。

A 100-meter section of the expressway, dubbed the "aorta of transportation," which connects eastern and western Japan, was destroyed. The road should be repaired as soon as possible to allow traffic to begin to flow once more.
　東西を結んでいる「交通の大動脈」が、約１００メートルにわたって壊れた。早急に修理して、通行を再開させねばならない。

Typhoon season is just getting started. A huge earthquake could occur anywhere. While work on rescue and relief efforts is vital, it also is important to check whether preparations for natural disasters are sufficient.
　台風シーズンはこれからが本番だ。大きな地震も、いつ、どこで起きるか分からない。救援と復旧作業の一方で、災害への備えは大丈夫か、点検も大切だ。

Our concern is the current state of evacuation arrangements prepared in case of flooding and landslides. In Hyogo Prefecture, there were those who were swept away by the flooded river while evacuating in anticipation of the river rising. In addition, the evacuation took place at night.
　とりわけ気がかりなのが、河川の増水や土砂崩れに備えた避難体制の現状だ。兵庫県では、増水に備えて避難中に、水位が上がった川に流された人がいる。しかも夜間の避難だったという。

In western Japan, large-scale landslides caused by heavy rains occurred last month, killing 30 people in Yamaguchi Prefecture and other places. At that time, too, problems concerning the evacuation arrangement were pointed out.
　西日本では先月も、豪雨による大規模な土砂崩れが起き、山口県などで３０人が亡くなっている。この時も、避難体制について課題が指摘された。

The government in 2005 compiled guidelines on evacuation in natural disasters and called on municipalities throughout the nation to streamline evacuation procedures. The government took the move in light of frequent disasters caused by heavy rains the previous year that left more than 200 people dead.
　政府は２００５年に「避難に関するガイドライン」をまとめ、全国の市町村に体制整備を呼びかけている。その前年に豪雨災害が多発し、２００人以上の犠牲者が出たことを踏まえている。

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Guidelines poorly observed

The guidelines stipulate that places where the danger of flooding and landslides is high must be identified. Based on the data, a hazard map must be made marking areas where damage is expected. Conditions under which residents will be asked to evacuate have to be decided in advance, taking into consideration the amount and rate of rise in river water levels and amount of rainfall, according to the guidelines.
　まず、増水や土砂崩れの危険がある場所を洗い出す。これに基づき、被害が及びそうな地域を地図化する。その上で、河川の水位や降雨量をもとに、住民に避難を呼びかける「基準」をあらかじめ定めておく、という内容だ。

However, according to the results of a survey by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced this spring, only about 40 percent of cities, towns and villages in the country have set such evacuation criteria. Similarly, about 40 percent of municipalities have prepared text messages to tell residents how to evacuate, according to the survey.
　だが、消防庁が今春公表した調査結果によると、この「基準」を定めている市町村は、全国で４割程度しかない。避難方法を住民に伝える文章を用意している市町村も、同程度にとどまる。

The Meteorological Agency says the incidence of heavy rainfalls in a year has been increasing in recent years. We should spare no pains in making a reality of the old Japanese adage that "If you are prepared, you don't have to worry."
　気象庁によると、豪雨の発生回数は近年、増加している。備えあれば憂いなし、を徹底したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12, 2009)
（2009年8月12日01時37分 読売新聞）