Millions risk being crushed on streets in big Tokyo quake, simulation shows

Thursday 03rd April, 06:43 AM JST

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wanderlust at 10:22 AM JST - 3rd April

Finally a realistic scenario is being produced, rather than the rosy predictions of only 7,382 deaths if a 7.3 quaked centred in Tokyo Bay hits the city at 4:33 a.m. on a May Tuesday.

All those exercises started by oji-sans with whistles, start-lines, white gloves and "rescue" teams in cute Mizuno orange tracksuits will be rendered useless, as all the fly-overs and elevated roads will be down, along with most of the tall buildings. Command and control will not exist.

Take care of yourself, your immediate family, and then your neighbours or colleagues.
romulus3 at 10:54 AM JST - 3rd April

I will be looting with eastokyo. its every man for himself if the big one comes and law of the jungle will prevail against any orderly walking in robotic unison.
eastokyo at 11:27 AM JST - 3rd April

Let's go nuts everybody. I'll bring my piece of crap stereo and play the Gunners. Welcome to the jungle baby. You're gonna die!

First place I'm going to pillage is the 100 yen store. So much good stuff in there.
greenteaonsens at 12:10 PM JST - 3rd April

Most of you wannabee looters will be buried under tons of concrete if a big one strikes at 4:30am

A big one striking Tokyo at that time will have casualty figures in the HUNDREDS of thousands given the population density here and medium tall to tall building ratio.
eastokyo at 12:17 PM JST - 3rd April

greentea, my cardboard rabbit-hutch will lightly disassemble itself in the event of an earthquake and will cushion my fall, not to mention the many babes I sleep with.

Now excuse while I get back to my serious stance on this forum zzzZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Take it to the government office pal.
romulus3 at 12:36 PM JST - 3rd April

greentea, having survived a few football riots in Sicily, I can assure you that my looting skills are primed for an eartquake.
eastokyo at 01:08 PM JST - 3rd April

Good to hear that you're ready romulus! Let's tear what's left of this place apart.

Moderator: Readers, back on topic please.
umbrella at 01:33 PM JST - 3rd April

Moderator sir/madam, I reckon posters like eastokyo deserve some slack as their amusing comments keep people like myself tuned into JT.

Let's face it. When the mother of all quakes hits Tokyo, it will be absolutely devasting in terms of fatalities, structural damage and economic damage. The economy will take years to recover afterwards. Wish I knew the date of this thing...
Nessie at 01:59 PM JST - 3rd April

millions of people would be forced to walk home and would find themselves packed tightly into very small areas, just like being on a crowded train, according to a simulation report released Wednesday by the government.

Will they make non-groping, women-only streets?

And when is the real report due out?

Being crowded on the streets will be the least of your worries if the big one hits ol' Edo.
kagunlapell at 02:00 PM JST - 3rd April

Japanese people walking 15h? this is the most unbelievable part of the news...I haven't met anyone being able to walk in a constant speed for more than 15min!!! Moreover, where to walk and in which direction? the mini-streets will be full with a 5m high wall of garbage from all cables, electric-posts, and piles of useless city decoration, bridges, billboards, etc. I guess that 5min after the quake, a massacre of gaijin would start blaming them to try to loot 100en-shops!
frontandcentre at 10:14 AM JST - 4th April

The evacuation thing will be fouled up by obasans stopping at the top of escalators, mark my words
bushlover at 10:57 AM JST - 4th April

I'd be willing to bet that many people would be so in shock they'd be hard pressed to walk anywhere or do anything and all have those pouty little expressions that say "Please feel sorry for me." and they could only look at their lost belongings and mumble. I also doubt they could organize the massacre these days. They couldn't organize a rescue party for a trapped kitten. Now if it were Mickey Mouse...
frontandcentre at 11:38 AM JST - 4th April

When this happens, I am going to sit in the ruins of my office and call Domino's Pizza for a couple of "tropicals" to keep me going until the rush has passed
laconic at 06:23 PM JST - 4th April

Isn't this headline a little dramatic. I had images of millions of people being crushed to death by falling masonary....as opposed to slighty squashed by fellow pedestrians
Honne at 09:14 PM JST - 4th April

This is one of those facepalm moments where I also had to LOL. The whole scenario is made so orderly and specific just like an employee instruction manual. Japan "VIP" Quality stuff. You just have to go back to the Kobe quake to see how chaotic things initially were since way too many had the "step by step guidebook" mentality. Drills are one thing but what happens in reality requires being able to adapt and act on the fly.

When the big one hits the Kanto region, you can sure as hell bet the survivors aren't going to initially be even thinking of trying to walk back home because it will just be sheer chaos and a mess. You have no idea where fires will be breaking out. Oh wait, this is Japan so maybe some will try IF they read the final report. I know for myself, I just don't want to be in the subway when it happens.