Japan to Survey Its Emergency Shelters, Readying for Missile Strikes
The government will launch more substantial surveys and research next fiscal year to assess the emergency shelter situation in municipalities and other countries with the aim of speeding construction of facilities designed to protect people from missile strikes, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
Japan plans to conduct extensive surveys and research on its emergency shelters in preparation for potential missile strikes, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. The government aims to make improvements to facilities designed to protect people from missile attacks, nuclear threats, and other dangers. Drawing from examples set by countries like Israel, the budget for these initiatives will include about ¥220 million in the fiscal 2027 preliminary budget.
The funds will support surveys, research, and the construction of stronger shelters that can protect residents in case of an emergency.
Currently, 61,142 emergency shelters are designated nationwide, but they are not evenly distributed among local governments. The government has set a goal of providing enough shelters for all residents at the municipal level by 2030. To address this, the government plans to utilize underground facilities like subway stations, shopping arcades, and parking lots as temporary shelters in addition to public facilities like schools and government buildings.
Currently, about 90% of emergency shelters are public, while only 5% are underground, leaving a significant portion of the population unprotected. The survey will also look at performance standards and criteria for underground shelters, which are better equipped to withstand damage.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
