The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department conducted a large-scale rescue drill at the Arakawa River to prepare for earthquakes and wind-and-flood damage [1, 2].
These exercises are critical for the capital as Tokyo faces persistent risks from a potential direct-hit earthquake and seasonal typhoons. By simulating real-world disaster environments, the police aim to ensure that rescue operations are swift and accurate when actual emergencies occur [1, 2].
During the training, officials used the Arakawa riverbed to recreate a flooded residential area. They utilized boats floated on the river to simulate submerged homes, allowing officers to practice extraction techniques [1, 2]. The drill featured the deployment of jet skis and police patrol boats to navigate the water and reach simulated victims [1, 2].
This specific operation followed the approach of Typhoon No. 6, which occurred earlier in June 2024 [2]. The timing allowed the department to test its readiness against the actual weather patterns and water levels associated with the region's storm season [2].
Some reports identify this event as the 50th iteration of the Metropolitan Police Department's Comprehensive Disaster Security Training [3]. While some records suggest different locations for various training components, the primary water-rescue simulation took place along the Arakawa [1, 2].
The Commissioner General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department emphasized the unpredictable nature of these events. "Disasters occur regardless of time and place, so I want everyone to work fully so that the necessary response can be made at any time," the commissioner said [1].
“"Disasters occur regardless of time and place,"”
The focus on water-based rescue in the Arakawa riverbed reflects an increasing institutional priority on 'compound disasters,' where seismic activity may trigger flooding or coincide with extreme weather. By integrating specific hardware like jet skis into their standard response protocol, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is attempting to reduce the time gap between the onset of a flood and the arrival of specialized rescue teams in densely populated urban corridors.
