The nighttime earthquake that jolted the Tokyo metropolitan area exposed afresh the weak underbelly of the gigantic and intensely crowded metropolis.

The strong quake underscored the need for a fundamental review of Tokyo’s preparedness for a predicted major earthquake whose focus will be directly under the capital.

The Oct. 7 temblor, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 and an epicenter in a northwestern area of Chiba Prefecture, caused broad disruptions in public transportation systems in Tokyo and its vicinity, including Japan Railway and subway lines.

A huge number of people were stranded by disrupted transportation services. Power outages left many passengers at a loss in darkened train stations.

Legions of stranded people left without a means to return home, however, are not the only challenge.

If streets become flooded with people, operations of emergency vehicles will also be disrupted and the risk of an avalanche of people occurring grows. These are life-threatening risks.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 left some 5.15 million people stranded, the government started calling on people to avoid as much as possible trying to return home during such a large-scale disaster. It has announced plans to install spaces for temporary stays in buildings along major roads and other structures.

But only six such spaces were set up in Tokyo and the two neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa and Chiba in the wake of the latest quake. No more than 120 people actually used them.

The number is too small compared to the total number of people who faced difficulty in returning home. The Tokyo metropolitan government says only part of the facilities that could be used for the purpose were made available in areas where serious congestion seemed to be taking place.

But it is difficult not to be worried by the metropolitan government’s tepid response, which was apparently too late and too small.

It was only after 2 a.m. on Oct. 8 that one of the six facilities set up, which was in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, received a request from the metropolitan government. Preparations began then, but only seven people used it.

The national and local governments involved should examine the administrative actions taken to see if there were any problems with the decisions made or communication and cooperation between them.

The administrations also need to find out whether citizens received appropriate information in a timely fashion. They should make a sweeping review of their abilities to make quick responses to nighttime emergencies and secure sufficient personnel for controlling flows of people. 

Businesses also need to reassess their systems and plans for responding to earthquakes. Congestion of people occurred in various parts of Tokyo also on the morning of Oct. 8, creating long lines at train stations.

The problem could have been mitigated if more companies had instructed employees to stay home or come to the office later than usual. There are jobs and circumstances that make such measures difficult to take.

But companies could have made better responses to the quake if they had capitalized on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many employees to work from home.

Some companies used their websites for employees to urge them to avoid trying too hard to come to the office while others have a rule that employees should work from home for at least two days in the event of an earthquake registering an upper 5 or higher on the Japanese seismic scale of 7.

Tokyo’s ordinance to deal with the problem of stranded people, which came into effect in 2013, calls on companies to take the responsibility for ensuring the safety of employees during emergencies. Companies should re-examine their emergency response plans and make sure that their employees know them.

The quake also damaged water pipes and stopped elevators in various parts of the metropolitan area. Regular and frequent inspections are crucial for preventing paralysis of the urban infrastructure.

It was the first time in Tokyo’s 23 wards for a quake to register an upper 5 since the gigantic earthquake that struck on March 11, 2011.

Local governments, businesses and citizens all appear to be becoming oblivious to the memories and lessons from the disaster.

There is no telling when a major earthquake will hit which city. The latest quake should jolt people and organizations in this quake-prone nation into reviewing their preparedness for the Big One.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 12