The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's annual major disaster-relief drill Sunday will feature the participation of Self-Defense Forces troops on an unprecedented scale -- 7,100 service members, 1,090 vehicles, 80 aircraft and five ships -- at 10 venues throughout the capital.
During "Big Rescue Tokyo 2000," hundreds of Ground Self-Defense Force troops will be deployed to Chuo Dori, the main avenue of the Ginza shopping district. Traffic will be stopped for an hour from 9 a.m. to allow for practice rescuing people trapped inside buildings and underground, according to Defense Agency officials.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force will also transport 500 service members aboard five vessels to Harumi Pier. GSDF troops from Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures will be airlifted to Haneda airport to join in the drill. Meanwhile, a special Oedo subway train will carry about 200 uniformed soldiers from the GSDF's Nerima camp from Hikarigaoka Station to Kiba Station.