Hit by its worst weather catastrophe in decades, Japan watched in horror in the summer of 2018 as torrential rains caused more than 200 deaths and 600 landslides, with whole villages swallowed by floods. The rains, which prompted millions to flee their homes and left 250,000 houses without water or electricity, were the worst weather-related crisis for 35 years.
Crisis experts say Japan’s ageing demographics exacerbated the tragedy, as the elderly are more vulnerable and less able to protect themselves. Almost a third of the population was over 65 in the most damaged area, in the country’s south-west.
Government officials described “frantic efforts” to understand why so many elderly residents ignored evacuation orders. “I think Japan is going to have to recognise that old people either cannot, or do not want to, follow the textbook procedures in a crisis,” said one senior official.
Disaster management is also threatened by ageing among emergency service workers.
The worst flooding in Japan since 1982 caused over 200 deaths in the summer of 2018. High temperatures and humidity following the flood resulted in more deaths as residents without air conditioning succumbed to heat-related illnesses. More than 200,000 homes were cut off from water in western Japan, creating insanitary conditions that put survivors at risk for other diseases. Nearly 6,000 people ended up in evacuation centers, where a shortage of temporary toilets caused people to stop drinking enough in order to avoid bathroom use, heightening the risk of dehydration and blood clots. Power outages and lack of refrigerators put those still at home in danger of food poisoning. More than 70,000 military troops, police and firefighters were part of the rescue and recovery mission.