Noto Peninsula Earthquake Archive: Living After the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, No. 170 (2026/01/05)

Today, I would like to introduce a site created and managed by Ishikawa Prefecture called the "Noto Peninsula Earthquake Archive: Memories of the Disaster, Records of Reconstruction."

Memories of the Disaster, Records of Reconstruction

Taking a look for the first time

That said, this is my first time taking a close look at it myself.
Since the Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture and others have been actively promoting this site, I became curious to take a look.

If I were still working, I would surely spend several hours looking through it, thinking,"Are there any images or videos on this site that I could use in class?"but now, I can't get that absorbed in it. The prefecture is also seeking
"practical examples and usage cases" for secondary use, so if you have used it in classes with children or for adult training, why not upload your experiences?

Individual data can also be registered

It seems that photos taken by individuals can also be posted, but as far as I can see, there are hardly any yet. The vast majority are things taken by public organizations.
The "search function" for retrieving necessary items from the massive amount of photos seems to be well-developed.

Also, reports officially released by the prefecture, various municipalities, and companies are stored. You can also access the full text of articles that caught your attention in newspaper or television reports.

I want various reports

However, for my part, I would also like them to include "scientific research materials" regarding the Noto Peninsula as a whole, compiled by universities and researchers.
Depending on the materials I want to see, it is a hassle to jump around the internet from the Japan Meteorological Agency to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and so on.
I wonder if copyright is involved there. Even just a collection of links would be appreciated, though...

Introducing two videos

This is a video file posted by a member of the public titled"State of building collapse at the time of the earthquake 1 (dashcam) _ Michishita, Monzen-machi, Wajima City _ 20240101"file.
This is the first time I've seen footage of the Michishita area. It's terrifying.

One more. This is also a video file filmed by a member of the public titled"State of the indoor pool at the time of the earthquake _ Euphoria Chirihama _ 20240101"file.
The earthquake occurs about a minute later.

When I think that this pool is anuclear power plant spent nuclear fuel poolit sends shivers down my spine.
Because accidents where water overflows have occurred many times in past earthquakes as well.

Water from the "spent nuclear fuel pool"

In our country, the phenomenon where water overflows from a nuclear power plant's spent nuclear fuel pool due to earthquake shaking (called thesloshing phenomenon) has occurred many times in the past.

Noto Peninsula Earthquake (January 1, 2024)

During the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, approximately 95 liters of water spilled from the pool of Unit 1 at the Shika Nuclear Power Plant, and approximately 326 liters spilled from the pool of Unit 2. The water remained within the buildings, and there was no impact on the outside or any hindrance to the cooling functions.

Even if it spills inside, it hasn't leaked outside. Thank goodness for that.
In fact, a similar accident had occurred in the past, and it had been properly improved.

Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake (July 16, 2007)

The accident that occurred at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant during the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake. This accident is
a very important case in the history of nuclear safety regulation. At that time, water spilled from the pools of all units from 1 to 7. In Unit 6 in particular, the spilled water (approximately 1.2 cubic meters) was released into the sea through gaps in electrical conduits and other areas. It contained trace amounts of radioactive materials, but it was at a level that would have no impact on the environment—this is how power companies always phrase it. In the first place, it was assumed that
no matter how deadly the poison
, it would be sufficiently diluted if added to seawater, so there was no need to worry.

Power companies applying the lessons of accidents

With this Kashiwazaki-Kariwa accident, the 'possibility of water spilled by an earthquake leaking to the outside' became strongly recognized, and subsequently, measures were advanced such as installing 'curbs (weirs)' around the pools and sealing penetrations in walls so that spilled water would not leak outside the buildings.

Therefore, Japan's nuclear power plants are safe. Of course, that is only until the next inconvenience occurs.