No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Characteristics of Flood Fatalities in Japan’s Typhoon Hagibis in 2019: Secondary Analysis of Public Data and Media Reports
Part of:
Floods collection
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 July 2021
Abstract
Objective:
Typhoon Hagibis struck Japan on October 12, 2019. This study documents and characterizes deaths caused by Hagibis and helps identify strategies to reduce mortality in future disasters.
Methods:
Japanese residents, who were killed by Typhoon Hagibis, as reported by Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, were considered for the study. Details were collected from mainstream Japanese media, and flooding data from hazard maps published by local municipalities.
Results:
Out of the 99 total fatalities, 65 (73.0%) were aged 65 years or above. Among those who drowned indoors (20), 18 (90.0%) lived in high-risk areas of flooding, and their bodies were found on the first floor of their residences. A total of 10 (55.6%) out of the 18 fatalities lived in homes with 2 or more floors, indicating that they could have moved upstairs to avoid the floodwater. However, 6 (33.3%) could not do so due to existing health issues.
Conclusions:
Relatively elderly people, particularly those in areas at high risk of flooding, were most affected. Seeking higher ground is a standard safety measure in times of flooding, but this may not be possible for everyone depending on their health status, structure of their residence, and the depth of floodwaters.
- Type
- Original Research
- Information
- Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , August 2022 , pp. 1512 - 1516
- Copyright
- © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021
References
Doocy, S, Daniels, A, Murray, S, Kirsch, TD. The human impact of floods: A historical review of events 1980-2009 and systematic literature review. PLoS Curr. 2013;5:ecurrents.dis.f4deb457904936b07c09daa98ee8171a.Google Scholar
Climate Risk Management Agency, The Association of British Insurers (ABI). Financial risks of climate change. June, 2005. https://www.ipcc.ch/apps/njlite/srex/njlite_download.php?id=7210.Google Scholar
Jonkman, SN, Maaskant, B, Boyd, E, Levitan, ML. Loss of life caused by the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: Analysis of the relationship between flood characteristics and mortality. Risk Anal. 2009;29(5):676-698.10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01190.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
The Guardian. Typhoon Hagibis: Millions across Japan told to evacuate homes. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/12/typhoon-hagibis-evacuation-japan-tokyo-braces-storm-arrival. Published 2019. Accessed January 25, 2021.Google Scholar
Kobayashi, C, Wakatsuki, Y, Griffiths, J, CNN. Recovery begins as Japan’s Typhoon Hagibis leaves trail of death and destruction. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/13/asia/typhoon-hagibis-japan-rugby-intl-hnk/index.html. Published October 13, 2019. Accessed January 25, 2021.Google Scholar
Abainza, RL. Hagibis broke several wind and rainfall records in Japan and in Western Pacific. https://www.windy.com/articles/hagibis-set-to-become-a-strong-typhoon-before-moving-towards-japan-9786?satellite,32.806,148.535,4. Published 2019. Accessed January 25, 2021.Google Scholar
Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA). Damages and responses against Typhoon Hagibis [in Japanese]. https://www.fdma.go.jp/disaster/info/items/taihuu19gou65.pdf. Published 2020. Accessed January 25, 2021.Google Scholar
Kramer, K, Ware, J. Counting the cost 2019: A year of climate breakdown. Christian Aid; December 2019. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-12/Counting-the-cost-2019-report-embargoed-27Dec19.pdf. Accessed January 25, 2021.Google Scholar
Tani, Y, Sawano, T, Kawamoto, A, Ozaki, A, Tanimoto, T. Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections in Japan: A cross-sectional newspaper database survey. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2020;9(10):461-463.Google ScholarPubMed
Salvati, P, Petrucci, O, Rossi, M, Bianchi, C, Pasqua, AA, Gender, Guzzetti F., age and circumstances analysis of flood and landslide fatalities in Italy. Sci Total Environ. 2018;610-611:867-879.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.064CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ashley, ST, Ashley, WS. Flood Fatalities in the United States. J Appl Meteorol Climatol. 2008;47(3).Google Scholar
Brunkard, J, Namulanda, G, Ratard, R. Hurricane Katrina deaths, Louisiana, 2005. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008;2(4):215-223.Google ScholarPubMed
Artigas, F, Bosits, S, Kojak, S, Elefante, D, Pechmann, I. Conveying flood hazard risk through spatial modeling: A case study for hurricane sandy-affected communities in northern New Jersey. Environ Manage. 2016;58(4):636-644.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Survey findings on listing of population with special care needs [in Japanese]. https://www.fdma.go.jp/pressrelease/houdou/items/191113_hinan_tyousa_1.pdf. Published 2019. Accessed November 13, 2021.Google Scholar
The Asahi Shimbun. A preparation of individual sevacuation plans for vulnerable population will be an obligation [in Japanese]. https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASNCY632YNCBUTIL012.html. Published 2020. Accessed November 29, 2020.Google Scholar
Lane, K, Charles-Guzman, K, Wheeler, K, Abid, Z, Graber, N, Matte, T. Health effects of coastal storms and flooding in urban areas: A review and vulnerability assessment. J Environ Public Health. 2013;2013:913064.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
French, J, Ing, R, Von Allmen, S, Wood, R. Mortality from flash floods: A review of national weather service reports, 1969-81. Public Health Rep. 1983;98(6):584-588.Google ScholarPubMed
Du, W, FitzGerald, GJ, Clark, M, Hou, XY. Health impacts of floods. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2010;25(3):265-272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pfister, N. Community response to flood warnings: The case of an evacuation from Grafton, March 2001. AJEM. 2002;17.Google Scholar
The New York Times. Hurricane Sandy’s deadly toll. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/nyregion/hurricane-sandys-deadly-toll.html. Published 2012. Accessed November, 2019.Google Scholar
Ozaki, A, Kanemoto, Y, Wada, M, et al. A call for individualized evacuation strategies for floods: A case report of secondary surgical site infection in a postsurgery breast cancer patient in Fukushima, Japan, following Typhoon Hagibis in 2019. Clin Case Rep. 2021;9(3):1212-1214.10.1002/ccr3.3727CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scholobig, A, De Marchi, B, Borga, M. The missing link between flood risk awareness and preparedness: Findings from case studies in an Alpine Region. Natural Hazards. 2012;63(2):499-520.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ozaki, A, Leppold, C, Sawano, T, et al. Social isolation and cancer management - advanced rectal cancer with patient delay following the 2011 triple disaster in Fukushima, Japan: A case report. J Med Case Rep. 2017;11(1):138.10.1186/s13256-017-1306-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ozaki, A, Leppold, C, Tsubokura, M, et al. Social isolation and cancer management after the 2011 triple disaster in Fukushima, Japan: A case report of breast cancer with patient and provider delay. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(26):e4027.Google ScholarPubMed
Brockie, L, Miller, E. Understanding older adults’ resilience during the brisbane floods: Social capital, life experience, and optimism. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2017;11(1):72-79.10.1017/dmp.2016.161CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burger, J, Gochfeld, M, Lacy, C. Concerns and future preparedness plans of a vulnerable population in New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy. Disasters. 2019;43(3):658-685.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed