According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, it would be highly beneficial for Vietnam and three other Southeast Asian countries to have maps clearly illustrating flood risks in targeted areas.
Japan plans to begin providing flood warning maps to Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia in the next fiscal year to help Southeast Asian nations mitigate damage caused by floods. The maps will utilize satellite observation data to predict flooding due to heavy rainfall.
Japan plans to provide flood risk warning maps for Vietnam – (Illustrative Image: WXIA).
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan has announced flood risk warning maps for various regions of Japan, showing the frequency and depth of flooding caused by floods.
Based on ground-observed data, including rain gauges, the maps indicate the risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall that could occur every 10, 30, 50, 100, and 150 or 200 years, along with information used to facilitate evacuation and community planning.
Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia are four Southeast Asian countries that are frequently affected by floods.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, it would be very useful for these four countries to have similar maps clearly showing flood risks in targeted areas.
Due to insufficient ground observation data in these countries, Japan has decided to create maps of specific areas after simulating floods using observational data collected by the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) system operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other agencies.
The Ministry of Land has begun discussions with the four countries in fiscal year 2023 to select target areas. This agency plans to provide a prototype version of the maps for each country by the end of fiscal year 2025.
In addition to preparing guidelines, including mapping procedures, the ministry will also develop human resources through training programs. The maps are expected to be made available to the public in each country.
As many Japanese companies operate in these four countries, Japanese businesses also hope that the maps will assist them in disaster preparedness business planning and in selecting office or factory locations.
Japan is also considering providing similar maps for other countries.
