Tokyo, 6 prefectures conduct joint anti-flood drill

TOKYO, May 21, 2005 -- Tokyo, Kanagawa and five other prefectures in east Japan conducted an annual joint flood drill Saturday, with 2,300 people participating.

According to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, the 54th drill took place in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, on the riverbed of the Tone River. It has been hosted by Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama and Chiba prefectures on a rotating basis.

The prefectures started the drill in the aftermath of Typhoon Kathleen in 1947 that killed more than 1,000 people in the region. It assumes a scenario in which a typhoon similar in size to Kathleen causes a flood that threatens the embankment along the Tone River system.

Members of local flood-prevention squads, police and the Self-Defense Forces conducted various operations, including rescuing people left on the sandbar with a helicopter and boats, the ministry said.

They also piled up sandbags to block flood water, while about 230 local residents participated in an evacuation drill.