2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
[SVC30-03] An interview Survey on the Response of Local Governments to the Drifted Pumice Originated from Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Volcano
Keywords:Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Volcano, drifted pumice, interview survey
I will present the outline of the interview with three local governments on the response to the pumice raft originated from Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba volcano.
Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba volcano in the southern part of Ogasawara Islands erupted in August 2021 and eject a large amount of pumice onto the sea surface. The pumice drifted to the west for two months and reaches Okinawa and Amami Islands, resulting in adversely affecting marine vessels and port facilities.
To investigate the situation in affected communities, I conducted an interview survey in Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures. At first, I interviewed an official of Environmental Department of Okinawa Prefecture, who is in charge of the response to stranded pumice on 19 November 2021. Next, I met an official in General Affairs Planning Division of Yoron Town on 22 November. I visited to Kagoshima Prefectural Office on 10 December to interview officials in Disaster Prevention Department, Civil Engineering Department, and Fishery Department. In addition, I visited to the laboratory of Dr. Shinjo in Ryukyu University, which conducts scientific research on drifted pumice on 20 November to obtain the information on the distribution of the stranded pumice. I also visited to Tourism Association of Yoron Island on 21 to ask the influence of drifted pumice on tourism industry.
The interview clarified that none of the interviewees have been informed the risk of the drifted pumice until it directly influenced their community although the pumice spent two months to reach Okinawa and Amami Islands. They have not consulted experts, such as researchers in universities to learn efficient measures to tackle with stranded pumice, either. Furthermore, few interviewees regard the damages due to drifted pumice as a volcanic disaster, and thus, they do not think that volcanologists possess information on similar phenomena.
As experts involved in volcanic disaster prevention, it may be desirable for us to discuss the effective measures to spread helpful information to affected populations.
Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba volcano in the southern part of Ogasawara Islands erupted in August 2021 and eject a large amount of pumice onto the sea surface. The pumice drifted to the west for two months and reaches Okinawa and Amami Islands, resulting in adversely affecting marine vessels and port facilities.
To investigate the situation in affected communities, I conducted an interview survey in Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures. At first, I interviewed an official of Environmental Department of Okinawa Prefecture, who is in charge of the response to stranded pumice on 19 November 2021. Next, I met an official in General Affairs Planning Division of Yoron Town on 22 November. I visited to Kagoshima Prefectural Office on 10 December to interview officials in Disaster Prevention Department, Civil Engineering Department, and Fishery Department. In addition, I visited to the laboratory of Dr. Shinjo in Ryukyu University, which conducts scientific research on drifted pumice on 20 November to obtain the information on the distribution of the stranded pumice. I also visited to Tourism Association of Yoron Island on 21 to ask the influence of drifted pumice on tourism industry.
The interview clarified that none of the interviewees have been informed the risk of the drifted pumice until it directly influenced their community although the pumice spent two months to reach Okinawa and Amami Islands. They have not consulted experts, such as researchers in universities to learn efficient measures to tackle with stranded pumice, either. Furthermore, few interviewees regard the damages due to drifted pumice as a volcanic disaster, and thus, they do not think that volcanologists possess information on similar phenomena.
As experts involved in volcanic disaster prevention, it may be desirable for us to discuss the effective measures to spread helpful information to affected populations.