Home > The Aso Volcano Disaster Prevention Council
The Aso Volcano Disaster Prevention Council

Organization

Chairman 　Aso Mayor　Yoshioki Sato　（Aso City General Affairs Bureau）

Members


  • Chief administrative officer, Minamiaso-mura
  • Director, Aso Regional Development Bureau
  • Chief of Aso Police, Kumamoto Prefecture
  • Chief of Takamori Police, Kumamoto Prefecture
  • Ministry of the Environment / (Spelling Unconfirmed) Kyushu Regional Environmental Office, Officer for the comprehensive protection, planning, and management of nature
  • Director, Mt. Aso Meteorological Observatory, Japan Meteorological Agency,
  • Chief, Aso Regional Fire Department
  • Director, Aso Branch, (Spelling Unconfirmed) Nature Park Foundation
  • Chairman, Activity Promotion Department, Kumamoto Prefecture Branch of the Japanese Red Cross Society

Council activities

These activities include monitoring volcanic activity, maintaining the safety of the tourists, and providing guidance for evacuation. Monitoring is conducted round the clock.
Head of the Mt. Aso summit office and employees: Four people
Civilian personnel involved in monitoring work: Four people
Around May　　Conducted by the Aso Volcano Disaster Prevention Council
　　　　　　Certification of the previous year’s work and finances
　　　　　　Approval of the current year’s work and budget
　　　　　　Observations on recent volcanic activity

Several accidents have occurred near the crater of Mt. Naka that were thought to have been caused by volcanic gases (sulfurous acid gas) The most recent occurred in 1994 and 1997. A 68-year-old woman died in the former, and two men, aged 51 and 62, died in the latter.
The Aso Volcano Disaster Prevention Council and the Ministry of the Environment instituted full-fledged measures to deal with toxic gases in 1994. In 1997, we formed the Committee of Specialists for Mt. Aso Gas Safety Measures, consisting of scholars and other volcano researchers. The committee devised restrictions for access to the volcano and evacuation measures.
Gas recognition and safety measures have been implemented for tourists. For example, automated measuring equipment is now installed at six locations near the crater. When they detect a gas density above a specified level, entry restrictions are imposed.