In a mass accident in Seoul, South Korea, a large number of young people crowded together on a narrow road sandwiched between buildings and suddenly collapsed one after another.
Experts point out that there is always a risk of mass accidents in narrow alleys and slopes where people tend to gather, especially in urban areas of Japan.
I walked around the city with Associate Professor Naoya Sekiya of the University of Tokyo Graduate School, who is familiar with psychology and behavior during disasters, to find out what kind of place it is and how to avoid danger.
A closed space with no escape is a risk
I walked along Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Tokyo with Associate Professor Sekiya.
This shopping street is popular with young people, and is crowded with many young people and tourists, especially during spring break and summer vacation.
In March 2010, rumors spread that ``a popular talent is coming'' and a large number of young people rushed to the entrance of the shopping district, and an accident occurred in which three teenage women were treated at the hospital.
Risk is everywhere in urban areas
The first thing Associate Professor Sekiya pointed out was that, in addition to the fact that there was already a lot of foot traffic, the structure was such that people flowed in from multiple directions, and the narrow roads were lined with buildings on both sides.
If for some reason people start to gather, there will be no place to escape and they will not be able to move, creating the risk of mass accidents.
Also, it is said that you need to be careful on slopes.
The accident in Seoul occurred on a narrow slope surrounded by buildings on both sides, but Takeshita Street also slopes gently toward the east from JR Harajuku Station.
It is said that when walking down a slope, the movement of people slows down and the walking speed slows down, making it easier for people to stay.
He points out that “enclosed spaces” with buildings on both sides and places where people tend to stagnate tend to create overcrowded conditions, further increasing the risk of accidents.
Associate Professor Sekiya said, ``In urban areas, there are such places everywhere, so it's hard to notice, but I want you to know that there is a risk.''
Thinking it would be dangerous if it became difficult to move
So what can we do to avoid accidents?
When I asked Associate Professor Sekiya, he said that first and foremost, "stay away from narrow and dangerous places where people are concentrated."
However, he points out that you may find yourself in a dangerous place or situation without realizing it.
For example, it is difficult to know whether your destination is crowded on a narrow road that intersects with a wide road, and if you get caught in it, it is difficult to return, so you need to be careful.
Associate Professor Sekiya
: "People who get caught up in a mass accident just feel that there are just too many people and that it is crowded, and I don't think they are aware of the risks. If you feel that something is different from usual or that the flow of people has stopped, it is important to leave the area as soon as possible."
Risk of mass accidents Even in large-scale earthquakes, etc.
Mr. Sekiya points out that the danger of mass accidents is not limited to events, but increases even more during large-scale disasters in urban areas, such as an earthquake directly beneath the capital.
Associate Professor Sekiya
``If a major earthquake were to stop the trains, there would be a tendency for crowds of people to get out of the station and those on their way to the station. Places where people flow in from multiple directions, such as in front of stations, underground passages, and bridges, will quickly become crowded, increasing the risk of
mass accidents. Based on this, it is important not to move the spot as much as possible.
Associate Professor Sekiya
``In the event of a large-scale earthquake, there is a danger not only of mass accidents, but also fires and aftershocks that can cause buildings to collapse. We need to walk on wide roads with less risk.”