Japan uses drones to warn of floods and tsunamis during evacuations.

Japan is increasing its use of drones to issue evacuation warnings during disasters such as tsunamis and floods.

A drone is deployed near the site of the traditional Awa Odori folk dance festival in Tokushima City, western Japan - Photo: MAINICHI

According to the Mainichi newspaper, these drones can transmit emergency alerts from the air, enabling faster and safer responses in emergency situations.

This initiative was spurred after the 2011 double disaster of earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan, when many government officials died while going door-to-door urging residents to evacuate.

Many localities now hope that drones can save many lives, although the investment cost remains a major obstacle.

During the Awa Odori festival in Tokushima City last August – an event that attracts a large number of tourists – a drone equipped with a loudspeaker and GPS device was placed on the roof of a nearby pumping station.

If an earthquake occurs, the drone will fly over the nearby river and broadcast an announcement urging viewers and dancers to move to higher ground.

The decision to deploy drones stemmed from the experience of last year's festival, when authorities issued a temporary warning about the risk of a major earthquake along the Nankai fault line stretching along the Pacific coast.

The organizers had to hastily create an emergency exit map, leading to chaos and anxiety among the crowd. Learning from this experience, new measures were developed, resulting in the implementation of a drone system this year. According to the organizers, this allows them to confidently welcome festival attendees.

The city of Sendai, in northeastern Japan, was one of the first to use this system, starting in October 2022. Sendai suffered heavy damage in the 2011 tsunami disaster, when several staff members and volunteers died while trying to warn residents.

Currently, whenever a tsunami warning is issued, two drones automatically fly out to sea, broadcasting sounds and reminders to warn swimmers and surfers. The system was first used in a real-world situation in July, following an earthquake off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

Many other localities are also experimenting with deploying drones for disaster response. Specifically, in March 2024, Miyako City (Iwate Prefecture) held a tsunami evacuation drill using drones equipped with cameras and loudspeakers, transmitting live images and guiding participants to safety. In April, Ishikawa Prefecture conducted a similar experiment simulating river flooding, although it could not yet be operated on a large scale due to the high cost of purchase and maintenance.

According to Professor Emeritus Kenzo Nonami from Chiba University, most rescue drones are custom-made, so their cost cannot decrease until they are widely used. He believes the government needs to provide support by supplying equipment or covering operating costs.

In the context of Japan's recurring natural disasters, drones are emerging as effective tools for rapid and safe evacuation. With the right support, they could soon become standard equipment in the country's disaster response system.

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Trieu Phuong

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhat-ban-dung-drone-bao-dong-so-tan-mua-lu-song-than-20251212130101531.htm