Western Japan last week was hit by the strongest typhoon to strike the nation in 25 years, and then just days later by an earthquake that paralysed the northernmost main island of Hokkaido and left roughly 40 dead. Japan also suffered through a summer of record-breaking heat and deadly, torrential rains in July that unleashed landslides and flooding. Coates, who is chairman of the Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020, admitted that the two disasters just a week before had been a bit of a reality check about the planning difficulties for what are already extremely complex Games due to the largest number of sports and events ever. "So what happened last week and what happened in Osaka certainly have hit home to me, and I know the Organising Committee, about the further complexity of planning these games," Coates told a news conference, referring to a storm surge that submerged Kansai International Airport just off the western city of Osaka. He said he knew organisers were taking the … [Read more...] about Disaster risks make 2020 planning ‘more complex’ – IOC’s Coates
Disasters
US$126 million is lost every day to natural disaster in the Asian-Pacific
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Two years ago, Asia-Pacific lost US$126 million a day due to natural disasters. In 2016, 0.4 per cent of the Asia-Pacific region’s GDP was lost to natural disasters, with some 11.2 million people displaced. By the year 2030, GDP losses are estimated hit 1 per cent. In percentage of annual capital investment, 2016’s loss amounted to 5 per cent of the figure, a very high number compared to other parts of the world such as Europe and Central Asia. Many ASEAN countries are among the most affected by climate change, especially the Philippines and Việt Nam, said a report by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). Rapid urban development contributed to the issue as ability to build resilience isn’t keeping up with growth, creating more risk. When natural disasters occur, it is often the most vulnerable such as children, women and the indigenous that are most severely affected. This, in … [Read more...] about US$126 million is lost every day to natural disaster in the Asian-Pacific
Japan resilient, but climate change making disasters worse: experts
And while world-class infrastructure and high-tech warning systems means the death toll and damage is generally lower in Japan than elsewhere, climate change is putting that to the test, experts say. Moreover, citizens used to decades of natural disasters may be underestimating the risk posed by stronger climate change-related phenomena. More than 220 died in floods in July mainly because "less than one percent of people affected by local evacuation recommendations actually went to the shelters, thinking that there would not be a problem," notes Jean-Francois Heimburger, an expert on natural disasters in the country. Unlike in other countries, even the highest levels of evacuation orders in Japan are not compulsory and the vast majority of people ignore them. "People tend to treat advisories too complacently based on their personal experiences," said Kimio Takeya, visiting professor at Tohoku University, who also sits on a U.N. climate change body. But in this era of climate change, … [Read more...] about Japan resilient, but climate change making disasters worse: experts
Troops help local people overcome disaster consequences
Among these locations Tuong Duong district has been badly affected with nearly 300 houses submerged, 10 washed away, five destroyed, and 37 heavily damaged. The Nghe An provincial Military Command continued sending nearly 2,000 troops and militiamen, together with 20 vehicles to the scenes in coordination with the local authorities to help the local people overcome the flooding aftermath. Troops of the Tuong Duong district’s Military Command repairing houses for the locals In addition, the Tuong Duong district Military Command also presented 30 gifts and necessities to families suffering heavy losses. The Con Cuong district Military Command also mobilized 200 troops to support local victims and provide free health checkups and medicines for them. * On Sept.1, the Ministry of National Defense instructed military units to follow developments of natural disasters, map out plans to deal with situations, and actively prepare forces to support victims. … [Read more...] about Troops help local people overcome disaster consequences
Myanmar-Thailand highway branded ‘ecological and social disaster’
They said the project would uproot indigenous people from their homes and farms. Critics said an environmental and social impact assessment for the road project, approved by the Myanmar government in June, failed to adequately specify compensation for loss of land and livelihoods, among other problems. “This is a road to an ecological and social disaster (in Myanmar),” said Christy Williams, Myanmar director for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an international conservation group. The highway is considered strategically important to both nations as it would link Thailand to a deep-sea port and planned Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Dawei, a town on the Myanmar side of an isthmus divided between the two countries. The industrial complex would serve as a gateway to Southeast Asia’s markets, with goods trucked between Dawei and Thailand, avoiding the need for ships to sail southward through the Malacca Straights, the world’s busiest shipping lane. But Williams … [Read more...] about Myanmar-Thailand highway branded ‘ecological and social disaster’