Earthquakes occur frequently in Japan. For your safety, preparing for the major earthquakes should be an important part of your everyday life.

1) Predictable Earthquakes in Osaka
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Learn the mechanics of the earthquakes)

■Ocean-trench earthquake

Ocean plates sink under continental plates. When a boundary of plates strain and reach its limit, the edge of the continental plate will spring back and cause an earthquake.

《Characteristic》

●Long quake time span (1 minute or over)
●Possibility of suffering from a Tsunami
●Earthquakes will occur at the interval of 10 to about 100 years

Tonankai/Nankai massive earthquakes of the M8 class that occur at an interval of 100 to 150 years are believed to occur in the first half ofthis century.

■Subduction-zone earthquake

A subduction-zone earthquake is generated by the Eurasian plate slips under the plate. Kobe Earthquake is a case in point.

《Characteristic》

●Short quake time span (10 seconds or over)
●Since the seismic center is shallow, quake around fault is intense.
●Earthquakes will occur at the interval of 1,000 to about 10,000 years

Uemachi Fault Earthquake occurs in continental areas and may reach the M7 class. Uemachi Fault extends from Toyonaka City to Kishiwada City penetrating a center of Osaka city approximately 42km.

Please refer Osaka City’s Office Emergency of Management website.

Earthquakes can occur at any moment. Even for a few seconds, we feel a quake is longer.

●Call out neighbors to confirm their safety.

●If someone is trapped under a building or furniture, save him or her with your neighbors. Be careful of a gas leak, an electric leak and an aftershock.

●For rescue operations, a shovel, a rope, and a crowbar are useful. Utilize home carpenter tools or rescue device installed in elementary schools or parks.

●Provide first aid for injured people. Seriously injured people should be carried to the hospital

●Extinguish a fire using a fire extinguisher or a portable fire pump.

●Collect and share food and water.

●Patrol your town in turns to prevent crime

■When you are inside

The gas supply can be automatically shut off when it senses a quake. First, hide beneath a desk or table. After a quake, be sure to turn off any gas appliances.

※You may suffer burns severely when you try to extinguish a fire during a quake.

 (When you are sleeping)

Protect your head from being inured by using futon or a pillow. Hide beneath a bed where furniture does not fall down.

 (When you are taking bath or in restroom) Bathroom or restroom is comparatively safer. Do not rush out of the room. Open a door or window to ensure an exit.

（Apartment Area）

Open all doors and windows to ensure an escape route. Do not use the elevator for evacuation.

 (Be aware of glass in the room)

Be sure to wear slippers inside the house to protect your feet from broken pieces of glass.

■When you are outside

（When you are driving）

Avoid sudden braking. Slowly reduce your speed and move to the left shoulder of the road and turn off the engine.

（When you are driving on the expressway）

Escape routes are installed at about every 1000m. Confirm the safety around you and escape immediately.

 (When you are on a train)

Grab a front seat or a strap. Or sit down to grab a leg of a seat.

 (When you are on a train)

Do not rush to get off the train. Follow the instructions by the conductors. In a subway, there is a risk of electrocution.

 (When you are in an elevator)

Because of an earthquake sensor, an elevator will immediately stop at the next floor. If an elevator does not have a sensor, press the stop buttons of all floors and get off as soon as it stops.

 (When you are in a department store or a supermarket)

Get away from show-windows or merchandise. You may be injured if you rush to an exit.

 (When you are in underground shopping area)

Exit is installed at 60m. In case of blackout, an emergency exit sign will turn on. Don’t panic and follow the instructions by conductors.

（When you are in school）

When you are in a classroom, hide beneath a desk and grab a leg.

 (When you are in workplace)

Get away from windows, a locker or a shelf. Hide beneath a desk to protect yourself.

 (When you are in the street lined with office buildings)

Watch out for broken glass of office windows.

 (When you are on a bridge)

Grab a rail or a fence. After a quake becomes calm, evacuate immediately.

(When you are in a coastal or river area)

Watch out for Tsunamis. Evacuate immediately to a safer ground such as high ground)

3) Everyday Measure

�@To minimize the damage of earthquakes, it is important to prepare for disasters in daily life. Talk with your family about what to do in case of earthquakes.

Decide what to do for each family member in case of emergency

Check for dangerous places inside and outside of your home.

Check a fire extinguisher or disaster prevention items are ready to use.

Put all emergency items such as a torch light or medicine for chronic disease in a rucksack and place it in an easy to access location

Stock emergency items can be used for 3 days until you receive relief supplies.

Decide on an evacuation area, a meeting place and how to contact family members each other if you are split up.

 (Evacuation Area) Ensure municipal designated evacuation shelters below. For more details, please refer to Osaka City’s Office of Emergency Management website.

�A Measures for home safety

 (Roof) Check regularly if roof tiles or slate are not cracked or slid.

 (Balcony) Do not place flowerpots at an unsteady place.

 (Block fence) Secure a block fence if it does not have a steady foundation or a reinforced concrete.

 (Under-floor) Inspect if there is damage by termites. Check and reinforce the foundation of under floor and pillars.

 (Glass）Use shatter-prevention film on windows, cupboards, and on shelves where glass is used.

 (Lighting equipment) Pendant light should be secured with metal fitting and prevent it from swinging.

 (Television)Place a TV as low as possible.

（Furniture）Use metal fittings to secure a tall wardrobe or a refrigerator and prevent it from falling over.

(Bedroom) Do not place big furniture

 (Entrance) Do not place furniture in aisle to ensure an escaping route to doorway.

 (Temporary shelter) Keep a temporary shelter in your home in emergency. Restroom or a room without big furniture is suitable because these rooms are narrow with a lot of pillars.

4) Protect yourself from a Tsunami

�@ Osaka can experience Tsunamis!

Two hours after the Tonankai/Nankai earthquake occurs, the 1st Tsunami is predicted to reach the mouth of the Yodogawa River, Yamatogawa River or Kizugawa River.

A height of tide walls developed by Osaka City is over 2.9m which is higher than a maximum height of a Tsunami at high tide. So we can prevent floods if we shut tide walls. But there is a possibility that tide walls cannot be moved because of an earthquake, therefore, evacuate immediately when a Tsunami warning is issued.

A Tsunami can reach seashores and riverbeds. Evacuate immediately and do not go back to watch it.

�ACharacteristic of a Tsunami

(Fast and powerful)

Tsunami in the deep sea are like jet speed waves. Even in the seafront, the speed is the same as a sprinter running. A small wave (ankle height) is powerful enough to prevent you from standing.

 (Tsunami is repeatedly produced)

Until a warning or a pre-warning is called off, don’t go to seashore. Tonankai/Nankai earthquake is expected to produce massive Tsunamis repeatedly for approximately 6 hours.

 (Breakwater may not be produced)

Before a Tsunami occurs, a Tsunami breakwater can be seen. But a Tsunami may attack without any indication.

 �BHow to protect yourself from Tsunami

・Evacuate immediately to higher ground over 3F in the building.
・Be aware that Tsunamis will occur even if the quake is small.
・Do not evacuate by car.