[Resilience Japan Promotion Council] Now that earthquakes are occurring frequently in various parts of Japan, what can you do to protect yourself from the risk of electrical fires?
“Resilience 1: The unknown fear of earthquakes and fires” will be broadcast from 18:00 on Wednesday, August 28th (BS12)
*Resilience Japan Promotion Council*
Press release: August 28, 2024
**
Now that earthquakes are occurring frequently in various parts of Japan, what you can do to protect yourself from the risk of electrical fires August 28th (Wednesday) 18:00 – (BS12)
Broadcast “Resilience 1: The unknown fear of earthquakes and fires” *
“Resilience 1: The unknown fear of earthquakes and fires”, produced with the cooperation of the Resilience Japan Promotion Council (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Michiaki Hirose), will be aired on BS12 from 18:00 today, August 28th. It will be broadcast. *
* [Approximately 70% of deaths in Tokyo metropolitan earthquakes are caused by fires] *
In Japan, large-scale fires have almost always claimed lives and property during major earthquakes. It is said that there is a 70% chance that this will occur within the next 30 years*
It is predicted that approximately 70% of deaths caused by an earthquake directly hitting the Tokyo metropolitan area will be caused by fire*, and the risk is particularly high in areas with large numbers of wooden houses in the metropolitan area.
When we investigated the causes of fires during the Great East Japan Earthquake, more than half of them were caused by electrical-related fires (Graph 1).
Causes of fires during the Great East Japan Earthquake
* [What is a “seismic breaker” that prevents electrical fires? 】* One of the secondary disasters of an earthquake, * “Electrification fire” is a fire that occurs when electricity passes through an electrical appliance that has been forgotten to be turned off or a damaged electrical cord.*
Occurs* when the power is restored. *
Expectations are increasing for seismic breakers to prevent these electrical fires. *
For example, a seismic breaker is a device that forcibly shuts off the main breaker on the distribution board and shuts off the power if a sensor detects an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 5 or higher. According to a study conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, if seismic breakers were to be used by 25% of the time in addition to improving the initial fire extinguishing rate, the number of buildings burned down would be approximately 70%, and if seismic breakers were to be used by 50%, approximately 9% of buildings would be destroyed. The calculation result shows that the percentage decreases (Graph 2). Tokyo has lost 100 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake.
In 2023, the year of our initiative, we distributed seismic breakers free of charge to areas with densely populated wooden houses. Estimated damage if countermeasures progress in areas with high density of wooden houses
The “shun-shutaku” developed by Japan Disaster Prevention Scheme Co., Ltd. (Ecominami), which won the Minister of State for National Resilience Award at the Japan Resilience Awards (Resilience Grand Prize) sponsored by this council, is inexpensive and easy to use even for the elderly. It is expected to be effective as a seismic breaker. The company is also working on the development of products that minimize anxiety during disasters, such as the “Anytime Lamp Tsuita,” a light bulb that does not go out even in the event of a power outage.
“Shundan” homepage * https://shundan.jp/*
* [Program overview] *
Program name: Resilience 1: The unknown fear of earthquakes and fires Broadcasting station: BS12
Broadcast date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 18:00
The program will explain how earthquakes and fires occur and introduce various measures to protect ourselves. Please take a look.
* [Association Overview] *
Corporate name: Resilience Japan Promotion Council
Representative: Michiaki Hirose, Advisor, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. Purpose of establishment: Based on the results of the National Resilience Council, a private advisory body to the Minister in charge of national resilience, the wisdom of industry, academia, government, and the private sector will be shared across Japan to ensure the smooth achievement of the Basic Plan for National Resilience. Gather together. By creating strategies for strategic use not only in emergencies but also in normal times, public and private investments can maximize synergistic effects,
Established with the aim of building a resilient nation.
Our council homepage * https://www.resilience-jp.biz/*
Japan Resilience Award Homepage * https://www.resilience-jp.biz/award/*
* [Inquiries regarding this press release] *
Resilience Japan Promotion Council
Secretariat: Mayumi Hori TEL: 090-4960-1709 (hori@resilience-jp.com)
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