Japan launches a new national agency to deal with disasters
The agency will coordinate ministries and local governments and improve evacuation centers as Japan prepares for megaquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions.
- On Monday, the Japanese government launched the National Disaster Management Agency in Tokyo, marking the first Cabinet-supervised agency launch since 2021 and establishing centralized oversight of nationwide disaster response.
- Japan, situated in the "Pacific ring of fire," created the NDMA to fill a critical centralization gap, as previous disaster response relied on temporary inter-ministerial teams without cross-departmental command authority following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
- Reconstruction Minister Goshi Hosono will serve concurrently as disaster management minister, overseeing more than 350 workers and wielding authority to issue directives to other ministries that must respect his recommendations.
- Hosono issued "emergency requests" on Monday for citizens to evaluate evacuation procedures and stockpile supplies for at least three days, warning, "If this actually hits, our future will be at stake."
- The agency prioritizes risks from potential megaquakes along the Nankai Trough, which could cause an estimated 6.5 million evacuees, yet only 15% of Japanese municipalities currently have evacuation contingency plans for elderly residents.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Japan has officially opened the National Disaster Management Agency to oversee preparedness and response to potential future catastrophic events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The Korea Times
Japan launches new national agency to deal with disasters
TOKYO — Japan on Monday launched a new national agency focused on disaster management to improve the country's preparedness if there's a megaquake along the Pacific coast or in Tokyo, or an eruption of Mount Fuji. More than 350 workers at the National Disaster Management Agency will oversee preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction efforts. The agency was not created in anticipation of any specific calamity, but to address concerns abo…
South China Morning Post
PressNewsAgencyJapan launches new national agency to boost disaster response
Japan on Monday launched a new national agency focused on disaster management with the goal of making the country better prepared should there be a megaquake along the Pacific coast or in Tokyo, or an eruption of Mount Fuji. More than 350 workers at the National Disaster Management Agency will oversee preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction efforts. The agency is not being created in anticipation of any specific calamity, but rather …
Tokyo-based agency will establish regional hubs to strengthen disaster response, coordinate with local governments and reduce casualties
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