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Japan’s Safety Readiness Tested: Nuclear Sheltering Trial and Aftershock Advisory Expose Winter Gaps

The latest field work and guidance highlight practical hurdles to protecting vulnerable residents in severe cold.

Overview

  • On December 14, researchers from Fukushima Medical University and Chiba University conducted a winter indoor‑evacuation experiment at a Kashiwazaki City community center designated as a radiation protection facility near TEPCO’s Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant.
  • The team ran positive‑pressure systems and assessed methods for sealing broken windows to limit radioactive infiltration, with results intended to inform real‑world facility operations.
  • Sapporo Fire Department disclosed it misdirected an ambulance, delaying arrival by about three minutes; an elderly woman in cardiac arrest later died, and officials say any causal link is unclear.
  • A newly issued HokkaidoSanriku aftershock advisory’s weeklong preparedness push surfaced challenges including evacuation congestion and cold‑weather countermeasures.
  • Sapporo prosecutors decided on December 11 not to indict two Hanai‑gumi executives who were sent on suspicion of assault causing serious injury, citing the state of the evidence.