Directions for prevention (8) Get away from walls and cliffs without delay

In the Miyagi Prefecture Earthquake of June 1978, 18 of the 28 persons who died were crushed under collapsed concrete block walls and stone walls.

This is not just an isolated past occurrence. In the Osaka Earthquake of June 2018, many may still have grievous memories of children who were crushed under a concrete block wall around an elementary school on their way to school.

In an earthquake, being near a concrete block wall or a cliff is extremely dangerous. Get away from such areas immediately and protect your head while staying low. Even if a wall or cliff seems intact after the initial shock, the aftershocks may result in a decisive blow and collapse.

Are there old concrete block walls or fragile slopes on your school or commuting route? How about on the way to the evacuation center? Even a familiar road may pose unexpected dangers in a disaster. By checking the route now, we may gain insight into securing safety in a disaster.