Japan to deploy toxic gas detectors for rugby World Cup, Olympics

November 20, 2017

Tokyo- Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency plans to deploy toxic gas detectors in major cities as part of antiterrorism measures for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, officials said.

The device can track the movement of gases in real time as far as 5 kilometers away.

Utilizing an infrared camera, it can identify some 50 types of chemical substances contained in toxic gases, including sarin and chlorine, without collecting gas samples.

The agency is considering deploying the detectors initially in major cities in the Tokyo metropolitan area by the end of March 2019 and then in host cities for the events, the sources said.

The detectors will be utilized for evacuation guidance that would be issued when terrorist attacks occur at event venues, rail stations, airports and other public places.

As they can identify types of toxic gasses, they are also expected to help medical institutions provide appropriate treatment to patients attacked by such gasses.

Since the detectors can also be utilized to respond to accidents involving chemical materials, the agency plans to deploy them to other major cities across the country after the 2020 Tokyo Games, the sources said. Jiji Press