Flooded by typhoon 40 dispatched to 600 rescue requests Found in report records Tochigi December 8, 19:29
Two months from typhoon # 19. In Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, NHK reported that only 40 cases were dispatched in response to approximately 600 rescue requests sent to the fire department by residents left behind in flooded areas. Experts say, “There is a limit to firepower in flowing water, so it is important for residents to evacuate early on their own.”
In fact, the heavy rain of Typhoon No. 19 in October flooded six rivers in Tochigi City, flooding the most 7,800 buildings in the prefecture.
When NHK obtained and analyzed the record of the 119th report sent to the fire department headquarters, the number of cases received from 7:00 pm on the 12th, when flood damage began, to 5:00 am the next morning when water began to draw, reached 602. However, I found that only 40 cases were dispatched.
Looking at the source of the reports whose location information was confirmed by region, most of them are in the assumed inundation area of the hazard map and are concentrated in the area between the Nagano River and the Tonami River. It was.
Only 5 cases were dispatched from 10:00 pm to midnight when the most reports were received, and the voice recording of the exchange of the reports indicated that the firefighters “evacuated by themselves” I want you to do it again.
About the reason why the rescue operation could not be carried out, Tochigi City Fire Department headquarters said that there was a situation where the water flow was so strong that the lives of the members were in danger. Prof. Shozo Nagata of Kansai University, who is familiar with firefighting administration, said, “There is a limit to firefighting power, and it is dangerous to carry out rescue activities in flowing water, so specialized techniques and special equipment are required. “It is not always possible that the fire department will help in the event of an emergency, so it is important for residents to evacuate early and early with self-help.”