'Instant Houses' provide shelter to victims in quake-stricken Kumamoto

Kumamoto, Japan (Kyodo) -- Rows of dome-shaped structures have emerged in the aftermath of the recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake, providing temporary shelter to those still residing in evacuation centers or sleeping in their cars. Keisuke Kitagawa, a professor at the School of Social Engineering at the Nagoya Institute of Technology, spearheads the project known as "Instant Houses."

Kitagawa aims to construct 120 of these houses by early next month for disaster victims. The structures can be erected in mere hours by spraying urethane foam onto an inflated, fire-resistant sheet, which then hardens into shape. Secured with screws and designed to endure winds up to 130 meters per second, each house spans about 20 square meters and stands 4.3 meters tall.

Funded through the institute's endowment, these houses are given to victims at no cost. Additionally, their proximity to homes helps residents maintain community ties. Amidst the devastation in Hikawa, Yoshinori Hirayama and his wife sought refuge in their car for two weeks, until two of the houses were constructed for them and their son.

Inspired by a young boy's plea during a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Kitagawa's initiative has evolved over five years, resulting in around 300 houses installed in Ishikawa Prefecture following similar disasters in January and September 2024. To combat Kumamoto's intense summer heat, air conditioners are also being installed for free. Local contractors are on board, employing individuals and contributing to job creation.

Kitagawa emphasizes the need to enhance living conditions to prevent disaster-related deaths, striving to reduce costs and construction time.