Flood warning maps from Japan will help Vietnam reduce damage

According to the Japanese Ministry of Land, it would be helpful if Vietnam and three other Southeast Asian countries had maps that clearly showed flood risk in target areas.

Japan plans to start providing flood warning maps to Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia in the next fiscal year to help Southeast Asian countries minimize flood damage. The maps will use satellite observation data to predict flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

Japan plans to provide storm and flood risk warning maps for Vietnam - (Illustration: WXIA).

The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has published a flood risk warning map for various regions of Japan, showing the frequency and depth of inundation caused by floods.

Based on observational data collected on the ground, including rain gauges, the maps show that the risk of flooding from heavy rainfall is likely to occur every 10, 30, 50, 100 and 150 or 200 years, along with information used to facilitate evacuation and community planning.

Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia are four Southeast Asian countries frequently affected by floods.

According to Japan's Ministry of Land, it would be helpful if the four countries had similar maps that clearly showed flood risk in target areas.

Because these countries do not have enough observational data on the ground, the Japanese side decided to create maps of specific areas after simulating floods using observational data collected using the Map system. The Global Satellite Precipitation Map (GSMaP) is operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other agencies.

Japan's Land Ministry has begun discussions with four countries in fiscal 2023 to select target areas. The agency plans to provide a prototype version of the map to each country by the end of fiscal 2025.

In addition to preparing guidelines including mapping procedures, the ministry will also develop human resources through training programs. The maps are expected to be made available to the public in each country.

Since many Japanese companies operate in the above four countries, Japanese businesses also expect that the map will help them make business plans to prepare for disasters and choose office or factory locations.

Japan is also considering providing similar maps to other countries.