Location Characteristics of Victims Caused by Recent Heavy Rainfall Disasters

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of accident scene of victims caused by recent heavy rainfall disaster in Japan. We have constructed database of victims by heavy rainfall disaster from 2004 to 2011 in Japan. 514 persons were killed by heavy rainfall disaster from 2004 to 2011. Latitude and longitude was estimated from address of accident scene. 1-km grid square statistics of national census in 2005 was used as data of the population. 1-km grid square digital national land information was used as data of the landform classification. 95.3% of the accident scenes were located in cell of rural area. Population of rural area is 46.3% of the total population of Japan. The accident scenes were unevenly distributed in rural area. 93.4% of the accident scenes were located in mountain or lowland. Victims in tableland were only 6.6%. Understanding for the topography information is important for the disaster prevention.