Challenges and Solutions in Selecting Locations for Medical Container Deployment during the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Japan

Introduction: On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The earthquake recorded a maximum seismic intensity of 7 and a tsunami height of 5 meters, causing extensive damage across various areas. In response, the government, through relevant agencies, arranged and deployed mobile medical containers for medical support. However, determining the locations for these containers proved to be extremely challenging. This study identifies the factors and challenges in the location selection process and examines a pre-designated site selection system as a solution. Methods: To organize and examine the “Report on the Deployment and Operation Status of Medical Containers during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake” by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Koido Research Group and the National Resilience Promotion Office, and field survey results. Results: During the Noto Peninsula earthquake, selecting locations for medical containers required understanding the medical needs of the affected areas, identifying candidate sites, and meeting installation conditions, including area, ground strength, ground conditions, access routes, and road conditions. These tasks were not only extremely challenging but also time-consuming, leading to discrepancies with the actual needs, which became a significant issue. Conclusion: Based on this experience, it is desirable to pre-select and database potential sites and transport routes for mobile medical containers during normal times, utilizing GIS to visualize this information, in preparation for large-scale disasters such as the anticipated Nankai Trough megaquake.