Regarding the fact that a clinic entering a building in Kita-ku, Osaka was set on fire and 24 people were killed, experts familiar with fires and urban disaster prevention said, "There are no legal problems with the building and the building is safe. It is a problem of the fire, "he said, and he said that it is necessary to urgently take measures such as subsidizing repair work to improve safety.

Professor Akihiko Kitago of the Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University, who is familiar with fires and urban disaster prevention, said about this incident, which killed 24 people because he could not escape from the 4th floor of the building, "Even if there is no legal problem with the building. It has become apparent that there is a potentially enormous risk. "



The arsonized building did not show any problems during the on-site inspections conducted by the fire department, but it had only one doorway, resulting in a loss of refuge and many people were killed.



This structure meets the requirements of the law at the time the building was built, but due to subsequent amendments, it is not safe by current standards.



However, he points out that costly and time-consuming measures will not be taken because repair work is not obligatory even if the current standards are not met.



Regarding this, Professor Kitago said, "There is a fact that things before the strengthening of the law, mainly in old buildings, remain while being called" existing ineligible ". Even if it complies with the law, there is a certain risk. I have to think about it. "



On top of that, the fire department not only checks for legal violations in emergency inspections, but also subsidizes the repair of buildings that are considered "existing ineligible", and has a certain degree of government involvement in improving safety. Is indispensable.