Monobe Campus
“The Mononobe Campus: A Campus Prepared for the Future” Declaration
Keisuke Edashige, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Marine Sciences
The Nankai Earthquake, which causes significant damage in Kochi Prefecture, is one of the Nankai Trough earthquakes originating from the crustal boundary in the Nankai Trough and surrounding areas; this category includes not only the Nankai Earthquake but also the Tonankai Earthquake and the Tokai Earthquake. Nankai Earthquakes have generally occurred every 100 to 150 years, and it is known that they have occurred simultaneously with the Tonankai Earthquake or the Tokai Earthquake, or with a time lag ranging from tens of hours to several years.Furthermore, although the frequency of occurrence is considered extremely low, there is a possibility of a maximum-class earthquake occurring with its epicenter in the Nankai Trough and its surrounding areas, causing extensive damage from the Tokai region to Kyushu. In recent history, the Showa Nankai Earthquake occurred in 1946. Approximately 80 years have passed since then, and it is said that the probability of a large-scale earthquake occurring along the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years is 70 to 80 percent; therefore, preparations for the impending major earthquake and tsunami must be thorough.
Kochi University has developed an emergency response manual, which is available on the university’s website.In addition, the Monobe Campus in Nankoku City, home to the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine Sciences, houses many buildings designated as emergency evacuation shelters by the city of Nankoku, and conducts earthquake and tsunami evacuation drills twice a year. Furthermore, the university has introduced an email-based safety confirmation system to verify the safety of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, in the event of a disaster (such as an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 6 or higher, typhoons, river flooding, or landslides).
As described above, Kochi University and the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine Sciences are fully prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis. However, evacuation shelters—where people stay after an emergency evacuation due to an earthquake or tsunami—are prepared by municipalities based on the residents registered in their official resident records.While many students maintain their official residence registration with their parents, it cannot be ruled out that in the event of an actual disaster, they may face disadvantages—such as failing to receive “important notifications or inquiries from the municipality” based on the resident registry. Please be sure to transfer your official residence registration to the municipality where you live.
Evacuation Sites at the Monobe Campus in the Event of an Earthquake or Tsunami
At the Monobe Campus, in anticipation of a major Nankai Trough earthquake, the third floors and rooftops of Buildings 1 through 4 of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Marine Sciences, the third floor and rooftop of the Genetic Research Facility, and the rooftop of the International Marine Core Research Institute have been designated as evacuation sites, as shown in the attached document. (These evacuation sites are also designated as emergency evacuation sites under an agreement with Nankoku City.)
Facilities at the Monobe Campus
・All major buildings on the Monobe Campus have now undergone seismic retrofitting.
・We have established a storage facility on campus to stockpile items necessary for evacuation, such as generators, blankets, food, and drinking water. However, since the current food supply is insufficient for the number of students and faculty members, we plan to increase the quantity in the future.
・Water supply facilities have been installed on campus and can be used even during water outages caused by earthquakes or other disasters. *For non-potable use only
・Emergency power generators have been installed on the rooftops of Buildings 1 through 4 of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine Sciences, as well as at the Marine Core International Research Institute and the Genetic Experiment Facility. These generators can be used as an emergency power source in the event of a power outage caused by an earthquake or other disaster.
Regarding the Disaster Preparedness Drill at the Monobe Campus
We conduct "earthquake and tsunami evacuation drills" involving students and faculty members once or twice a year, and "fire drills" simulating a fire once a year. In addition, we conduct "simulated firefighting drills," "rappelling drills," and "first aid training" under the guidance of the fire department.
In addition, every year prior to the evacuation drill, we hold a meeting of the Monobe District Disaster Prevention and Fire Safety Committee. In addition to faculty members from the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine Sciences (including the Dean, the Chair of the General Affairs Committee, and the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee), the committee is attended by faculty members from the Disaster Prevention Promotion Center who are experts in disaster prevention, faculty and staff from the Marine Core International Research Institute, staff from the University Co-op, and student representatives. This makes it a valuable opportunity to gather insights on disaster prevention from individuals representing a wide range of professions and perspectives.