61880    Additionally, sufficient food supplies have not been reaching the earthquake victims and reportedly there is even a concern about starvation.

61881    Lifelines such as water, sewage, electricity, gas, communications, and transportation remain disrupted.

61882    It is hard to believe that this is the scene in "Japan, the economic superpower."

61883    It even calls into question if the government ever had a proper manual in the event a disaster strikes.

61884    The government set up the Headquarters for Major Disaster Countermeasures immediately after the earthquake and it has been reported that Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama instructed it to devise "urgent and prompt countermeasures."

61885    The Self-Defense Forces also immediately dispatched three units to the Kobe area.

61886    We do not think that there were delays in taking action.

61887    However, when the trucks carrying the relief supplies became held up on their way to the disaster area, or when we see the flames left uncontrolled, we cannot help but wonder if there weren't more precise measures.

61888    Japan is an archipelago that cannot escape earthquakes.

61889    Also, the urban structure cannot be altered in a short period of time.

61890    As such, follow-up measures based on the possible damage should be an issue we should always keep in mind.

61891    Such issues as the government chain of command leading up to the appropriate rescue work, relief effort, assignment of work among the central and local governments, operation procedures and other concerned issues must be addressed.

61892    Such manuals for "crisis management," "emergency policy" or something to that effect should have been developed and those concerned should be trained regularly.

61893    It is questionable if those measures had been in place.

61894    This time, government officials have often mentioned that "the magnitude was unexpected" and "the force beyond anyone's expectation worked."