Did you participate in the disasters prevention training on June 12th?
27 years ago this day, there was a strong earthquake in Miyagi prefecture that caused huge damages to Sendai city. Concrete block fence was identified as one of the most dangerous objects. Today, I will talk about "concrete block fence."
An earthquake (M.7.4, intensity 5) attacked Sendai city at around 17:14, 12th June 1978.
16 persons died, over 10000 people injured in the current Sendai city district. Damages included the collapse and half-collapse of 4,400 buildings, partial damage of approximately 86,000 buildings. At that time, 11 persons died due to the collapse of concrete block fence.
Furthermore, if we traced back to the earthquake at the northern part of Miyagi, 30th April 1962, there were also casualties due to the collapse of concrete block fence
Things happened twice will happen again. It is certain that it will still be casualties by concrete block fence in the coming third earthquake.
Do you know the weight of one concrete block?
When an earthquake occurs,
First of all, "Do not stand near concrete block fence. Stay away from the fence." You will not know by your eyes whether the block fence you pass everyday is safe or not.
If the fence in your house is made by concrete blocks, we ask for serious inspection.
When damage occurs, the person who possesses or manages the fence may have to take responsibility.
All of us should try to prevent damage to the other by not causing damage.
Links of related pages:
Earthquake-proof measure of block fence and house.Partial subsidy to remove block fence (Living and Environment Section, City Service Bureau)
Grant of building a green fence (Tree-planting Promotion Section, Construction Bureau)
To citizens who are planning to build concrete block fence (Construction Guidance Section, City Service Bureau)
| Concerning the problem of block fence, please contact the Construction and Housing Section in your local Ward Office. | |
|---|---|
| Construction and Housing Section, Aoba Ward Office | (022) 225-7211 |
| Construction and Housing Section, Miyagino Ward Office | (022) 291-2111 |
| Construction and Housing Section, Wakabayashi Ward Office | (022) 282-1111 |
| Construction and Housing Section, Taihaku Ward Office | (022) 247-1111 |
| Construction and Housing Section, Izumi Ward Office | (022) 372-3111 |
| Block fence related organizations: | |
| JAPIC Miyagi (Association) | (022) 373-6258 |
| (Japanese Architect, Block and Exterior Construction Association, Miyagi Branch) | |
| Concrete Block Industrial Group, Miyagi Branch | (0223) 34-1421 |
Start all earthquake measures that you can do from today.
The size of one concrete block is 39cm (width) ×19cm (height) ×10cm (depth) centimeter, and the weight is approximately 10kg. "Are you kidding?" The weight of a concrete block for fence can be over 20kg. Needless to say, it is not just one block when the fence collapses. In the worst case, the whole block collapses from the root.
On the right is a photograph of a concrete block fence that collapsed in Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu earthquake. The block fence has 15 blocks per row and 4 rows in total.
4 ×15 = 60 blocks
60 x 20 = 1,200 kg = 1.2t
You may think, "High block fence are dangerous, but a fence with just 4 rows should be safe." However, what is the height of your child?