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Title
Japanese: 
English:Disaster Management in a Shrinking Society: The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake’s Holiday Shutdown, Challenges and Lessons Learned. 
Author
Japanese: LAOSUNTHARA AMPAN, Saengtabtim Kumpol, サッパシー アナワット, リーラワット ナット, 大橋 匠.  
English: Ampan Laosunthara, Kumpol Saengtabtim, Anawat Suppasri, Natt Leelawat, Takumi Ohashi.  
Language English 
Journal/Book name
Japanese: 
English:International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 
Volume, Number, Page Volume 125       
Published date May 15, 2025 
Publisher
Japanese: 
English:Elsevier Ltd. 
Conference name
Japanese: 
English: 
Conference site
Japanese: 
English: 
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105582.
Abstract The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Japan offers a unique case study of disaster management in a shrinking society. During a holiday shutdown, the disaster revealed vulnerabilities in a region marked by aging populations and declining infrastructure. This study analyzes official reports, local disaster plans, and post-disaster assessments, and it examines the interplay of multiple hazards, earthquake, tsunami, and fires and their cascading impacts on disaster response and recovery. The study focuses on three key challenges: the Wajima market fire, exposing gaps in firefighting strategies in areas prone to fires and tsunamis; publicly funded demolition processes; and the Unidentified Owner Building Management System. These cases illustrate how demographic decline affects emergency response capabilities, property management, and administrative procedures. Resource constraints, complex property administration, and systemic issues in recovery processes highlight the unique difficulties depopulating regions face. The results from this study also examine innovative solutions deployed during the response, such as satellite communication systems and adaptive governance structures. This research's key recommendations include enhancing multi-hazard preparedness strategies, legal and administrative reforms for an efficient recovery, and fostering community resilience through tailored capacity-building initiatives. This research contributes to disaster resilience literature by addressing the implications of demographic change for emergency management. It offers actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners in aging, disaster-prone communities and emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to managing unclaimed properties and improving disaster governance in regions experiencing population decline.

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