Japan spends record $133 billion on earthquake resilience

The funding, an increase of 5 trillion yen from the current plan from 2021, will be allocated to a five-year national recovery plan starting next fiscal year to strengthen key infrastructure and prepare for another major earthquake.

The draft plan will be released on April 1 before the Japanese government finalizes it in June. The focus of the new plan is to improve essential systems such as water and electricity supplies, which have been severely affected by recent earthquakes, notably the Noto Peninsula earthquake on January 1, 2024.

The 7.6 magnitude disaster, combined with heavy rains, left more than 500 people dead, two missing and more than 150,000 homes damaged. A year later, more than 7,500 people are still living in shelters or temporary housing.

Asaichi Street in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, was destroyed by a fire caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Photo: Hurohukidaikon/CC/Wiki

The new recovery plan includes 324 projects, including upgrading water supply and wastewater treatment systems to withstand earthquakes, along with repairing roads and bridges at about 92,000 locations.

Japan will also apply technology and digitalization in disaster prevention, strengthen public-private cooperation and improve preparedness at the local level.

Many areas of Japan face a high risk of a major earthquake in the next 30 years, according to the country's earthquake agency. The Nankai Trench off the southeastern coast has an 80% chance of experiencing a quake of magnitude 8 to 9.

The Nemuro coast in Hokkaido has a similar probability of a magnitude 7.8 to 8.5 earthquake, while Miyagi Prefecture has a 76% to 93% chance of a magnitude 7.4 earthquake.

Ngoc Anh (according to Yomiuri News, NHK, SCMP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhat-ban-chi-ky-luc-133-ty-usd-cho-kha-nang-phuc-hoi-sau-dong-dat-post340812.html