Okinawa Prefecture asks the committee set up to handle the pumice problem to examine whether it can be reused.

A large amount of floating pumice was seemingly released from an undersea volcanic eruption in the Ogasawara Islands. The pumice has become a major problem as it flows along the seacoasts everywhere in Okinawa Prefecture. 


At a Prefectural Executive Committee meeting on 15 November,  the “Committee to Counter Floating Pumice (temporary name)” was set up with Governor Denny Tamaki as chief. The new committee will solidify plans to advance the management of coordinated information and progressive countermeasures in every locality.


According to the Prefectural Executive Committee, the arriving flows of pumice will be gathered at multiple locations within the prefecture. The Prefectural Environmental Research Agency will test whether or not contaminated materials are present and is expected to quickly get the results. With protective measures assured, the agency will proceed to determine whether its possible to put the pumice to use.


The Prefecture has set up a “Rapid Countermeasure Team” made up of relevant experts in environment, tourism, and civil engineering, which has already held 2 meetings. The team has confirmed the extent of the damage.


However, at the beginning  of this month, a huge flow of pumice arrived at Unten Port in Nakijin. Along with halting ferry and other shipping, it had a serious impact on people’s daily lives. Concerns arose over emergency travel on routes to Okinawa’s outer islands. It was determined that countermeasures were essential across all localities, including health and medical departments and planning sections. 


Consideration was given by the three highest levels and the department directors to tightening shared information and setting up a working committee at the team leader level and an executive committee at the directors level under the counter-measures committee. The directors in charge took a “We want to counter the problem with a feeling of speed” approach.


As for the reuse of the pumice, the flows of pumice in Okinawa Island’s northern and southern areas are being gathered in multiple locations and analysis is taking place on the solubility and content of metallic substances which may be harmful to humans. If the content is below accepted hazard standards, the possibility of using the pumice for fertilizer in farming or as material for civil engineering will be examined.  


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Tuesday 16 November 2021

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/01c56fce3960cbb54d0955320dda27969aafbbfd


Translator’s note:

Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 

  2. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  3. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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