Clinical Features of Disaster-Associated Direct Deaths during Recent Inland Earthquakes in Japan.
Tohoku J Exp Med
; 251(3): 169-173, 2020 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32641643
ABSTRACT
Natural disasters, including earthquakes, cause disaster-associated direct deaths due to hazards and disaster-related deaths. This study was a retrospective and observational study that explored the effect of natural disasters on direct death. Although research reports on disaster-related deaths are common, there are few reports of disaster-associated direct death caused by events, such as house collapses, fires, and sediment-related factors. The amendment of the Building Standards Law in 1981 has made Japanese building standards more stringent. We sought to examine the determinants of the number of disaster-associated direct deaths during recent inland earthquakes in Japan. Following 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes (April 14, 2126 [magnitude (M) 6.5], April 15, 003 [M 6.4], and April 16, 125 [M 7.3] and the subsequent numerous aftershocks), police necropsies confirmed 50 disaster-associated direct deaths (28 women [56%]). Thirty-four victims (68%) were elderly people 65 years of age or older, and 38 victims (76%) died as a result of a collapsed house. These percentages are consistent with those associated with recent inland earthquake disasters in Japan. The main finding was a linear correlation between the number of completely collapsed houses and the number of deaths due to house collapse during recent inland earthquakes in Japan (P = 0.02). It is suggested that the maintenance of houses may be important in reducing the number of disaster-associated direct deaths during inland earthquakes. The amendment of the Building Standards Law might reduce the number of disaster-associated direct deaths during inland earthquakes.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Causas de Muerte
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Terremotos
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Colapso de la Estructura
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Vivienda
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article