Watching the TV news of the Hiroshima landslide disaster (Aug. 20), I felt anger at those responsible for issuing evacuation warnings, sorrow and pity for the poor victims who were incapable of evacuating on their own initiative, and amazement at the lack of emergency planning, etc.
Most astonishing was the sight of that chaotic jumble of housing carpeting the very foot of the mountain. I am well aware of the shortage of land in Japan, but even I could see that living there was like sitting under the sword of Damocles. How could such reckless development be allowed?
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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