Disaster drill guidelines to cover foreigners, disabled

October 5, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency will compile guidelines for evacuation drills within fiscal 2017 to better guide foreign and disabled people in the event of disasters, officials have said.

The agency plans to present seven specific cases, including a scenario in which foreign people unable to understand evacuation announcements ask for explanations.

Japan aims to boost the annual number of visitors from abroad to 40 million by 2020, when the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held.

The country's fire defense law obliges the operators of public facilities, such as train stations, airports, sports stadiums and hotels, to conduct evacuation drills.

But the law does not take into account the presence of foreign and disabled people in such drills.

The seven emergency cases will also include panic triggered by fire, attempts to use elevators despite warnings not to and disabled people trapped in elevators.

The guidelines, intended for use by municipalities, will also show procedures to guide foreign evacuees utilizing translation applications and lists of example sentences and words for elementary Japanese learners.

The importance of sharing information with nearby commercial facilities and asking cooperation from volunteer staff, especially at sports venues, will also be highlighted.

The agency plans to conduct evacuation drills joined by foreign and disabled people at public facilities in a total of six locations in mid-October or later. Opinions from participants will be reflected in the guidelines. Jiji Press