The Diplomat (June 19)
“Comparisons–both fair and unfair–will likely be drawn between this government’s response to the Osaka earthquake and the 3.11 triple disaster or the 1995 Hanshin earthquake to score political points. Abe will be under pressure to centralize command without micromanaging, to foster cooperation at the municipal level without overreaching. Though this natural disaster is not on the scale of either the 3.11 or Hanshin earthquakes, given Abe’s grim political outlook, he cannot afford any misstep under this kind of scrutiny.”
Tags: 3.11, Abe, Centralize, Cooperation, Government, Hanshin earthquake, Micromanaging, Misstep, Natural disaster, Osaka earthquake, Overreaching, Pressure, Response, Scale, Scrutiny
Financial Times (March 6, 2012)
Last year’s massive quake “awakened” Japan. The nation is now doing a comprehensive “rethink on how to mitigate the effects of disasters.” “Longstanding assumptions” are being overturned to envision even greater seismic risk. The newspaper emphasizes, “It would be wrong to dwell on such matters all the time. Despite its vulnerability to natural disaster, orderly Japan remains one of the world’s safest places to live.”
Last year’s massive quake “awakened” Japan. The nation is now doing a comprehensive “rethink on how to mitigate the effects of disasters.” “Longstanding assumptions” are being overturned to envision even greater seismic risk. The newspaper emphasizes, “It would be wrong to dwell on such matters all the time. Despite its vulnerability to natural disaster, orderly Japan remains one of the world’s safest places to live.”
Tags: Earthquake, Japan, Natural disaster, Risk, Safety
Economist (March 17)
“Some natural disasters change history. Japan’s tsunami could be one.” After two lost decades, Japan desperately needs change. “This dreadful moment” may eventually prove more than “a time of death, grief and mourning.” It may also be “a time of rebirth.”
Tags: Japan, Lost decades, Natural disaster, Tsunami
Bloomberg (February 23)
New Zealand’s deadly earthquake may be the most costly natural disaster to strike insurers since 2008. A JPMorgan Chase analyst has estimated insured losses at $12 billion, the most since a $19.9 billion loss from Hurricane Ike. The quake which rocked Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, would also rank as the seventh most costly natural disaster insurers have faced since 1970.
New Zealand’s deadly earthquake may be the most costly natural disaster to strike insurers since 2008. A JPMorgan Chase analyst has estimated insured losses at $12 billion, the most since a $19.9 billion loss from Hurricane Ike. The quake which rocked Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, would also rank as the seventh most costly natural disaster insurers have faced since 1970.
Tags: Earthquake, Insurers, Loss, Natural disaster, New Zealand
