8 publishers · first seen Mon, 02 Nov 2026 07:51 UTC · updated Tue, 03 Nov 2026 05:54 UTC
Japan has launched a new National Disaster Management Agency to enhance preparedness for potential megaquakes along the Pacific coast or in Tokyo, and for an eruption of Mount Fuji. The agency, with over 350 workers, aims to oversee preparedness, emergency response, and reconstruction efforts. This initiative comes in response to concerns about the nation's readiness for a crisis similar to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, which resulted in nearly 20,000 deaths and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan, located along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' is highly susceptible to natural disasters but has never had a dedicated agency for disaster management.
Reconstruction Minister Goshi Hosono, who managed the Fukushima nuclear crisis, will oversee the agency, which is headed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Hosono has urged municipalities and residents to review their preparedness, including checking the quake resistance of their homes, securing furniture, evaluating evacuation procedures, and stocking up on essential supplies.
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