10km-radius exclusion zone on April 14, and were the first to commence large-scale searches within this zone. By June 4, 2012, 356 bodies had been found and recovered from within the 20km-radius exclusion zone.

Search activities in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

## Main Issues for Review on Searching for Missing Persons

- Advancing the preparation of easy to carry, easy to use materials and equipment such as poles with hooks and insoles to prevent injuries, materials and equipment that enable activities in high radiation areas, and heavy machinery as such equipment was utilized during the search activities associated with this earthquake.

- The undertaking of measures to enable efficient activities such as specification of contacts, confirmation of division of roles, and implementation of joint training as joint search activities in collaboration with related agencies such as the Self-Defense Forces, the Fire Department, and the Japan Coast Guard will likely be conducted when large-scale disasters occur.

## (2) Autopsies and Identification

At their peak, the prefectural police forces nationwide dispatched up to 497 officers a day as the IERU (Autopsy and Identification Unit) to the police of the three affected prefectures. These officers performed autopsies and identified bodies with the cooperation of doctors and dentists.

Identification of the recovered bodies proceeded with difficulty as there were many cases where bodies had been found a quite a distance from their places of residence, etc. or where positive identification was difficult as entire families were thought to have fallen victim to the disaster.

Officers conducting autopsies, etc.

Consequently, various approaches were taken in preparation for later identification, including the compilation of thorough records of fingerprints, palmprints, extracted DNA profiling material and dental imprints during autopsies, and the posting of photographs of bodies and relevant information such as clothing, gender and physical features on bulletin boards in morgues and also on the websites of the police in the three affected prefectures.

## Main Issues for Review on Autopsies and Identification

- Securing autopsy/morgue sites based on damage estimates and taking into full account the potential usability of the facility during disasters, as many designated autopsy/morgue sites were rendered unusable and a high number of bodies were found and recovered over an extensive period.

- Stockpiling equipment for autopsies as well as revising IERU (Autopsy and Identification Unit) operating plans as long-term measures were needed in response to this earthquake and there were difficulties in securing materials and equipment for autopsies and officers for the IERU (Autopsy and Identification Unit).

## 3 Ensuring Safety and Security in the Affected Areas

(1) Crime Deterrence Measures in the Affected Areas

## 1 ) Crime Situation in the Affected Areas

While there was a decrease in the overall number of confirmed crime cases in the three affected prefectures, a high number of larceny cases targeting residences, shops, and other locations occurred in the initial aftermath as they were easier to break into with most of the residents on the coastal area evacuated.