Because of fears of a large earthquake hitting the Tokyo region, the metropolitan government's disaster vulnerability survey released Monday may warrant a close look.
More than seven decades have passed since the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake struck, and concerns persist about when the next Big One will hit. The metro survey rated areas in Tokyo according to the risk of damage in the event of a large quake. It considered five key factors: ground conditions; durability of structures; risk of postquake fires; risks to residents such as from falling objects and collapsing buildings; and evacuation routes and shelter areas.
Those factors were used in determining which "chome," or address block, are likely to suffer the worst damage. The report lists 83 areas considered particularly vulnerable. For example, Honcho 6-chome in Nakano Ward is ranked the most potentially dangerous in terms of susceptibility to fire, while Shinjuku 3-chome tops the list in terms of risks to people.