Disaster-related deaths after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident - Definition of the term and lessons learned

Abstract

There are two types of disaster deaths: direct and indirect. Direct deaths are caused by the direct physical effects of disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and radiation exposure, whereas indirect deaths are caused by secondary health effects such as emergency evacuation, relocation, evacuation environment, medical care delivery system, and psychosocial effects. In Japan, the term “disaster-related deaths” is used to refer to indirect deaths; they are defined by the Cabinet Office as follows: “Deaths because of aggravation of injuries caused by the disaster or illnesses caused by the physical burden of living in evacuation shelters, etc., which are recognized as being caused by the disaster based on the Law Concerning Provision of Disaster Condolence Grants (1973 Law No. 82) (actually, disaster condolence payments) (Including those for which no payment has been made, but excluding those whose whereabouts are unknown as a result of the relevant disaster).” This study aims to provide an account of disaster-related deaths in Fukushima Prefecture, the primary affected area of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. An observational study was conducted on disaster-related deaths published by the Japanese government and local governments from March 2011 to July 2021. The total number of deaths in the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) was 19,617, of which 3,691 were disaster-related deaths. Fukushima Prefecture had the largest percentage of disaster-related deaths at 59.1%. The status of certification of disaster-related death was different among municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture (range of certification rates: 40%–75.9%). This is the first study on disaster-related deaths in Fukushima in the 10 years after the FDNPP accident. It is possible that further analysis in the future will be useful for disaster countermeasures.