(6) Steps taken on the basis of lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake

(i) Revision of the Fire-fighting Organization Act

In a large-scale disaster like the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake large rescue units need to be dispatched quickly and wide-area, systematic fire fighting support given.

In the wide-area fire fighting support mechanism in operation so far, the prefectural governors of the affected area would ask the Director-General of the Fire Defence Agency for support, after which large rescue units etc., would be dispatched. The Fire- Fighting Organization Act was revised as follows in October 1995, to enable a quick response to a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake, because the dispatch of rescue units was sometimes delayed.

Should there be no time to wait for a request from a prefectural governor in the affected area, the Director-General of the Fire Defence Agency can ask another governor to support the division in the affected area without a request from the governor. Moreover the Director-General can himself ask the chief of a municipality outside the disaster area to support the municipality affected.

(ii) Organization of emergency fire-fighting relief teams

The Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake claimed more than 6,300 precious lives and caused injury to many more. It has been recognized that there is a need to establish a system in which advanced rescue units can be dispatched quickly from all parts of the country to carry out rescue activities quickly. Thus,

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