logo
Japan steps up earthquake, tsunami defenses amid quake swarm – DW – 07/09/2025

Japan steps up earthquake, tsunami defenses amid quake swarm – DW – 07/09/2025

DW09-07-2025
Authorities have evacuated dozens of people from remote islands in southern Japan that have been shaken by over 1,700 tremors in recent weeks.
The Japanese government on July 1 approved significant upgrades to the national plan to safeguard the public in the event of a major earthquake off southern Japan and to respond in the event that disaster does strike.
The move comes amid an unprecedented swarm of quakes hitting the Tokara Islands.
Dozens of residents of the remote island chain, half-way between Japan's most southerly main island of Kyushu and Okinawa Prefecture, have been evacuated to the mainland after enduring more than 1,700 tremors since June 21.
The islands were hit by 60 quakes on Monday alone, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, with Akusekijima island shaken by multiple tremors of magnitude 5.
Experts say earthquake swarms have been recorded in the area before, but never of such magnitude or for such an extended period of time.
Authorities have instructed residents who have chosen to remain on the islands to be prepared for further tremors, although they have gone to great lengths to emphasize that the ongoing seismic activity in the Tokara islands is not a precursor to the much-feared Nankai Trough earthquake.
They agree, however, that disaster is unavoidable and edging closer.
Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries.
The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, sits on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
The nation typically experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for about 18% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.
In March, the Japanese government released an updated report on the threat posed by a quake in the Nankai Trough, a 900-kilometer fault that runs parallel to the coast off southern Japan, from Kyushu in the west to Tokyo at its far eastern end.
The study now puts the likelihood of a magnitude-9 quake on the fault at 80% in the next 30 years.
In 2014, a similar report estimated a potential death toll of 332,000 and the destruction of 2.5 million buildings, primarily due to a resulting tsunami impacting coastal communities.
But the revised report now lowered the number of potential fatalities to 298,000, the vast majority of them victims of tsunami waves, while 2.35 million buildings would be destroyed.
In response, the government's Central Disaster Management Council has drawn up new plans, aiming to cut the projected death toll by 80% within the next decade.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Takeshi Sagiya, a professor at Nagoya University's Research Center for Seismology, Vulcanology and Disaster Mitigation, says the 80% target is commendable but probably not achievable in the event of a magnitude-9 disaster.
"The government's priority is to reduce loss of life, but while we learned a lot from the Tohoku earthquake of 2011, we also realized that it is impossible to protect everyone and everything," he told DW.
Taller and more robust sea walls have been constructed in some areas, with hundreds of tsunami refuge towers built in communities identified as most at risk in the event of an earthquake-triggered tsunami. One of the newest is in Kuroshio town in Kochi Prefecture, where experts suggest a tsunami of up to 34 meters tall could come ashore in a worst-case scenario.
"The infrastructure is important, but probably more important is to educate local people on what to do when an earthquake happens, how they can evacuate quickly and which routes they should take," Sagiya said.
"People need to better understand the hazards because the estimates say that the first tsunami could hit the shore just five minutes after a quake," he said.
In 2011 in Tohoku, in contrast, it was around 30 minutes before the first waves struck the coast, with the tsunami blamed for virtually all the around 20,000 dead.
Sagiya said it is "clearly impractical" to attempt to build 30-meter seawalls around the entire coastline of southern Japan and that, inevitably, the coastal cities of Nagoya and Osaka will be impacted by tsunami.
"And when there is widespread destruction in the cities, who is going to be available to provide help in the coastal communities that have been hit?" he asked.
The other hard lessons that Japan learned in 2011 involved the nuclear power plant at Fukushima, said Kazuto Suzuki, a professor of science and technology policy at Tokyo University and leader of the 10-year investigation into the disaster.
"The reason the Fukushima Daiichi reactors failed was due to the diesel generators that were the backup power supply being placed in basements that were flooded," he told DW.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Similarly, the fire engines that were needed to pump water onto the three reactors that experienced meltdowns were all parked in one place that was overwhelmed by waves, rendering them inoperable.
"Lessons were learned in 2011 and there are new regulations in place about emergency generators, fire engines and other safety measures," he said. "But there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to an earthquake in the Nankai Trough and it is important that there are constant efforts to improve safety, to keep looking and looking to try to identify weaknesses and then to solve them."
And while there are a number of nuclear facilities on Japan's southern coast that would feel the impact of a tremor in the Nankai Trough, Suzuki says the one he is most concerned about is the Sendai plant on the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture.
"It is not directly facing the trough, but I believe it is the most vulnerable and there is the possibility that it might fail," he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Deutsche Bahn is on track for more delays and cancellations – DW – 07/17/2025
Deutsche Bahn is on track for more delays and cancellations – DW – 07/17/2025

DW

time6 days ago

  • DW

Deutsche Bahn is on track for more delays and cancellations – DW – 07/17/2025

Once famed for never being late, German trains almost never run on time anymore. Deutsche Bahn has launched a refurbishment program that is likely to last at least a decade, and the costs and criticism are increasing. In Germany, where the trains were said to never run late, a route is now considered punctual if it is delayed by less than six minutes. Since 2022, only 62% of trains run right on schedule, compared with close to 99% in neighboring Switzerland. Much longer delays are commonplace, and trips are as likely to be canceled completely as they are to end prematurely. The frequent problems are exacerbated by strikes and weather conditions. If is particularly hot or cold, travelers are likely to encounter more problems. Train travel in Germany often requires time, patience and nerves of steel. In 2024, Deutsche Bahn (DB) paid passengers almost €200 million ($232 million) in compensation, nearly €70 million more than the previous year. "Deutsche Bahn is undergoing its biggest crisis in 30 years," DB CEO Richard Lutz said in May 2025. He has tried in vain to get the company back on track since becoming chairman of the management board in 2017. "We are a long way from what we set out to do and what our customers expect from us, in key areas." The run-down DB network covers about 33,500 kilometers (19,800 miles) of track. As a state-owned company, DB is dependent on subsidies from the federal government, which for decades has invested far too little in infrastructure. "We cannot ensure stable operations on an outdated infrastructure that is prone to failure," Lutz said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Some of Germany's tracks, rails, switches and signal boxes date to the 19th century. Many of them are so run down that they cannot be repaired or so outdated that they are not compatible with digitally controlled rail operations that are supposed to become the standard. DB's general refurbishment program, which was launched in 2024, focuses on 41 lines, covering 4,200 kilometers, that are essential for a high-performance network. It is the largest overhaulin DB's history to date. The 70-kilometer stretch between Frankfurt am Main and Mannheim, known as the Riedbahn, was the first to be shut down. Over six months, rails and ballast, 152 switches and 140 kilometers of overhead line were torn out and reinstalled. Twenty stations, signaling technology and noise barriers were also renovated. It turned out to be more complicated than expected to install digital technology and the costs rose to more than €1.5 billion — twice as much as originally estimated. The Federal Audit Office, which reviews the government's financial management, accused the Transport Ministry of negligence, saying it should have demanded that DB provide evidence for the economic viability of its approach. "The hitherto usual market prices for construction work multiplied within a very short space of time," the Federal Audit Office wrote to the Bundestag Budget Committee in May. It added that there had also been shortages of skilled workers and construction equipment. The office determined that further funds for refurbishment plans should only be made available once the Transport Ministry had "prove beyond doubt that these are necessary and economical." As a consequence, DB announced that its general refurbishment program would be extended by six years, until 2036. Next up is the 280-kilometer line between Germany's largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg, which carries about 30,000 passengers a day, making it the most frequently used direct long-distance connection in the country. It is used by around 230 regional, long-distance and freight trains each day. It will close for nine months from August 1. Long-distance trains will have to take a detour of 100 kilometers. Freight trains will be rerouted even more extensively. Some 170 buses will replace the regional trains, covering 86,000 kilometers a day to maintain connections to the towns between Berlin and Hamburg. It is already foreseeable that the complications and disruption will be worse than on the Riedbahn. DB has considerably scaled back its plans for this massive undertaking. The introduction of the European Train Control System (ETCS), a train protection system to replace the incompatible systems used by European railways, has been postponed until the next decade. This is because conventional technology still needs to be used as not all trains are currently compatible with future systems. A DB press release in May said that this was making the renovation works complicated and costly. The original number of switches has also been reduced. There were supposed to be more, as well as multiple tracks, to ensure that fast trains could overtake slower ones. Even in the planning stage, the costs have risen to €2.2 billion. Germany's government has promised DB additional funds for the renovation of the rail lines. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) spoke of investments of €107 billion by 2029. The money is to come largely from the debt-financed special fund for infrastructure and climate protection that was established earlier this year. In a report published in May, the Federal Audit Office warned that the government could not assume that money alone would solve DB's "permanent crisis." The office called for an overall strategy that should include an "adjustment" of the company structure, implying that clarity should be brought in to disentangle the hundreds of DB holdings and subsidiaries For years, there has been a discussion about whether to separate the rail infrastructure and transport in order to enable more private companies and competition in the network. For now, there is little hope that the situation will improve for DB. The Federal Audit Office does not envision that DW will be able "to meet transport and climate policy expectations" for the foreseeable future.

In Germany, summer vacation is grounds for interstate spats – DW – 07/16/2025
In Germany, summer vacation is grounds for interstate spats – DW – 07/16/2025

DW

time16-07-2025

  • DW

In Germany, summer vacation is grounds for interstate spats – DW – 07/16/2025

Millions of German schoolchildren are looking forward to the summer vacations. Some are even already off. But when the holidays begin is an ongoing source of debate among the federal states. About 11.4 million minors attend school in Germany. If they and their families were to go on vacation at the same time, the result would be even more massive traffic jams on the highways, overcrowded trains and overbooked hotels. Therefore, each of the 16 German federal states starts its summer vacation at a different time. In 2025, the six-week vacation period for Saxony started at the end of June, whereas for Bavaria it will not start until the beginning of August. A summer vacation period that is staggered is also in the interests of the tourism industry. Hotels, beaches and amusement parks can be evenly visited over several months. Education in Germany is a matter for the individual states, not the federal government in Berlin. So Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Thuringia, Hesse and the other federal states are free to decide when to set their vacations. The education ministers of the 16 federal states coordinate with each other at the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, setting vacation dates years in advance. For over 50 years, they have tried to accommodate all interests. The idea is that the summer and winter semester in all states should be roughly the same length, allowing for enough time for students to sit exams ahead of the summer vacation, as well as for excursions, sports days and projects. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Because each federal state would like to have the best dates. That is: Not only so that there is time for exams, but also so that residents get as much sun as possible and access to cheap flights and hotels. As these are harder to come by in mid-July than at the end of August, later vacation dates are particularly popular. The weather is likely to be more pleasant, and people can also take advantage of bargains because of the start of the low season. Two states in particular do not want to alternate: Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, in southern Germany. Both insist on being the last state to go on vacation in the summer. They used to justify this by saying that schoolchildren in agricultural regions had to help with the harvest. Now, they say that their Whit Sunday holidays are late. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Not yet. For years, the representatives of other federal states have called on Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to cooperate. North Rhine-Westphalia's education minister, Dorothee Feller, said in an interview with the that NRW "would also like to have a later start to the vacations.' Year after year, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg block all attempts by other states to change the system. "We have our vacation rhythm," said State Premier Markus Söder, of the conservative Christian Social Union. Even if the two states were to give in, the earliest change would come in five years, as all vacation dates are fixed until then. Germany is not the only country in which regions have different start and finish dates for vacations. In the Netherlands, there are three zones with different summer vacations. However, these are determined by the national Education Ministry and are never more than two weeks apart. France also has a staggered start to some holidays, but not the long summer vacation. In other countries, such as the UK, there has been discussion of a rolling system for a long time. The annual dispute between the north and south about when the school summer vacations should begin seems to be a purely German ritual.

Japan steps up earthquake, tsunami defenses amid quake swarm – DW – 07/12/2025
Japan steps up earthquake, tsunami defenses amid quake swarm – DW – 07/12/2025

DW

time12-07-2025

  • DW

Japan steps up earthquake, tsunami defenses amid quake swarm – DW – 07/12/2025

Authorities have evacuated dozens of people from remote islands in southern Japan that have been shaken by over 1,700 tremors in recent weeks. The Japanese government on July 1 approved significant upgrades to the plan to safeguard the public in the event of a major earthquake off southern Japan and to respond in the event that disaster does strike. The move comes amid an unprecedented swarm of quakes hitting the Tokara Islands. Dozens of residents of the remote island chain, half-way between Japan's most southerly main island of Kyushu and Okinawa Prefecture, have been evacuated to the mainland after enduring more than 1,700 tremors since June 21. The islands were hit by 60 quakes on Monday alone, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, with Akusekijima island shaken by multiple tremors of magnitude 5. Experts say earthquake swarms have been recorded in the area before, but never of such magnitude or for such an extended period of time. Authorities have instructed residents who have chosen to remain on the islands to be prepared for further tremors, although they have gone to great lengths to emphasize that the ongoing seismic activity in the Tokara islands is not a precursor to the much-feared Nankai Trough earthquake. They agree, however, that disaster is unavoidable and edging closer. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries. The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, sits on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific "Ring of Fire." The nation typically experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for about 18% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater. In March, the Japanese government released an updated report on the threat posed by a quake in the Nankai Trough, a 900-kilometer fault that runs parallel to the coast of southern Japan, from Kyushu in the west to Tokyo at its far eastern end. The study puts the likelihood of a magnitude-9 quake on the fault at 80% in the next 30 years. In 2014, a similar report estimated a potential death toll of 332,000 and the destruction of 2.5 million buildings, primarily due to a resulting tsunami impacting coastal communities. But the latest revised report has lowered the number of potential fatalities to 298,000, the vast majority of them victims of tsunami waves, while 2.35 million buildings would be destroyed. In response, the government's Central Disaster Management Council has drawn up new plans, aiming to cut the projected death toll by 80% within the next decade. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Takeshi Sagiya, a professor at Nagoya University's Research Center for Seismology, Vulcanology and Disaster Mitigation, says the 80% target is commendable but probably not achievable in the event of a magnitude-9 disaster. "The government's priority is to reduce loss of life, but while we learned a lot from the Tohoku earthquake of 2011, we also realized that it is impossible to protect everyone and everything," he told DW. Taller and more robust sea walls have been constructed in some areas, with hundreds of tsunami refuge towers built in communities identified as most at risk in the event of an earthquake-triggered tsunami. One of the newest is in Kuroshio town in Kochi Prefecture, where experts suggest a tsunami of up to 34 meters could come ashore in a worst-case scenario. "The infrastructure is important, but probably more important is to educate local people on what to do when an earthquake happens, how they can evacuate quickly and which routes they should take," Sagiya said. "People need to better understand the hazards because the estimates say that the first tsunami could hit the shore just five minutes after a quake." In 2011 in Tohoku, in contrast, it was around 30 minutes before the first waves struck the coast, with the tsunami blamed for virtually all the 20,000 dead. Sagiya said it is "clearly impractical" to attempt to build 30-meter seawalls around the entire coastline of southern Japan and that, inevitably, the coastal cities of Nagoya and Osaka will be impacted by a tsunami. "And when there is widespread destruction in the cities, who is going to be available to provide help in the coastal communities that have been hit?" he asked. The other hard lessons that Japan learned in 2011 involved the nuclear power plant at Fukushima, said Kazuto Suzuki, a professor of science and technology policy at Tokyo University and leader of the 10-year investigation into the disaster. "The reason the Fukushima Daiichi reactors failed was due to the diesel generators that were the backup power supply being placed in basements that were flooded," he told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Similarly, the fire engines to pump water onto the three reactors that experienced meltdowns were all parked in one place that was overwhelmed by waves, rendering them inoperable. "Lessons were learned in 2011 and there are new regulations in place about emergency generators, fire engines and other safety measures," he said. "But there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to an earthquake in the Nankai Trough and it is important that there are constant efforts to improve safety, to keep looking and looking to try to identify weaknesses and then to solve them." And while there are a number of nuclear facilities on Japan's southern coast that would feel the impact of a tremor in the Nankai Trough, Suzuki says the one he is most concerned about is the Sendai plant on the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. "It is not directly facing the trough, but I believe it is the most vulnerable and there is the possibility that it might fail," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store