Approximately 40% of the victims of the heavy rains in western Japan "Completion of disaster prevention facilities such as sabo dams"

NHK surveyed about 1,400 victims in the four prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi, and Ehime, three years after the heavy rain disasters centered on western Japan. It was found that about 40% of the respondents mentioned the completion of facilities such as the Sabo dam.

Experts point out that disaster prevention facilities need to be urgently developed so that disaster victims can proceed with the reconstruction of the area with peace of mind.

The heavy rains in western Japan in July three years ago caused a series of sediment-related disasters, river floods, and inundation damage, mainly in the Shikoku and Chugoku regions.

Over the last month, NHK conducted a survey of approximately 2,650 victims in the four prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi, and Ehime, which were affected by the heavy rains in western Japan, and received responses from 1,389, or 52%.

Three years after the heavy rain, when asked what they most wanted to ask the national and local governments, "completion of planned disaster prevention facilities such as sabo dams and embankments" was the highest at 45%, and "dissemination of disaster prevention information". “Strengthening” was 25%, and “continuation of watching activities” was 6%.

The progress of disaster recovery works such as sabo dams and river embankments damaged by the heavy rains in western Japan varies from prefecture to prefecture depending on the magnitude of the damage, but Hiroshima has the highest number of dead and missing persons in the four prefectures. In the case of the prefecture, as of the end of May, 71% of the facilities in the prefecture have completed restoration work, and about 30% of the facilities have not been completed.

Expert "Need to develop disaster prevention facilities at an early stage"

Regarding the results of the questionnaire, Professor Reo Kimura of the University of Hyogo, who specializes in disaster prevention psychology and is familiar with supporting disaster victims, said, "The answer reflects the victims' desire to live with peace of mind, strongly seeking safety. I think that it is important for the people who will be the driving force to return to the reconstruction of the region, and it will lead to the accumulation of people if they think that they can live with peace of mind, which will lead to the reconstruction, so it is early for that. It is necessary to improve disaster prevention facilities at the stage. "

Sonouede when attempting to regain "the bustle in the area, since the process of when one of delays one after another reconstruction will be delayed, so that the development of disaster prevention facilities get the prospect at an early stage, I want to strive even more to the government ".

Residents waiting for the completion of the disaster prevention facility

Kozo Oshita (76), who lives in the Koyaura district of Saka Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, answered that the most important thing to ask the national and local governments in the questionnaire was "completion of disaster prevention facilities".

The heavy rains in western Japan three years ago flooded the underfloor of my house, but I evacuated to the second floor and was safe.

However, the area around my house surrounded by mountains was caught in the earth and sand, and the nearby residents died and the houses were completely destroyed, causing great damage.

In February of last year, a sabo dam was completed at a distance of 100 meters from my home, but the area where Mr. Oshita lives is still designated as a "sediment disaster special caution area" by Hiroshima Prefecture because of the high risk of sediment disasters. is.

Another sabo dam planned on the slope above the completed facility has not yet been completed.

Mr. Oshita said, "Only the person who saw it may know, but it was an incredible amount of earth and water that washed away and crushed the house. Also, I am scared to think that such a thing will happen. That's what makes me anxious.

Mr. Oshita, who was the chairman of the neighborhood before the disaster, is concerned that if the situation continues for a long time, it will have a serious impact on the reconstruction of the area.

In the Koyaura area, where 1800 people lived before the disaster, about 70 households and 200 people left the area due to the heavy rains in western Japan, and the population has decreased by more than 10%.

All planned sabo dams in the area are expected to be completed in about two and a half years, and by the time they are completed, people who are wondering whether to return to the area will choose not to return, and heavy rain will occur. I have a sense of crisis that the previous bustle will not be regained.

Mr. Oshita said, "I'm lonely because I can't say,'Don't go anywhere else' in the current situation. I think that some people may have given up after three years. Disaster prevention If the facilities and other hardware are improved, there may be a desire to return to this area, so I hope that it will be completed as soon as possible. "