Following last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake on Jan. 1, Ishikawa Gov. Hiroshi Hase urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected areas right after the disaster, which resulted in a delayed initial response from volunteers.
But although volunteers often face criticism on social media, with some accusing them of being a "burden" to victims, Kobe University Professor Emeritus Yoshiteru Murosaki, an expert in disaster management, argues that volunteers are essential from the very moment a disaster strikes.
Murosaki arrived at the hard-hit areas of the city of Nanao and others on Jan. 6, soon after the disaster struck, and delivered supplies like water and diapers to evacuation centers while conducting inspections.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.