In the Kumamoto earthquakes which occurred at 21:26 on April 14, 2016 with a seismic intensity of 7 in Mashiki of Kumamoto Prefecture and aftershocks on the seismic scale of 5 followed continuously with a peak intensity of 6 at 01:25 on April 16, 2016 in Kumamoto City, the local gas distributors and manufacturers are being tied up with confirmation of their employees’ safety and reconditioning of the gas supply system as of April 20.

Hiroyuki Ichiyasu, executive director of Kumamoto Sanso headquartered in Kumamoto City which suffered serious disasters this time said, “Some of our employees are forced to stay in cars due to the destruction of their condominiums and we are to keep taking good care of them.” President Kastuya Murakami of Nippon Gas Chemical whose business office is located at Nishihara Village of the Aso Province said, “Our employees and their families were safe and sound.” President Kazuhiko Okazaki of Kurox Corporation having filling stations in Minamata City located southernmost of Kumamoto also said, “Minamata City located in the southern region did not suffer serious damages in particular fortunately.”

As for the gas manufacturers, Iwatani’s Kumamoto Gas Center which is the base station to fill industrial gases and LPG seems to have stopped operation after the earthquake that occurred on April 14. Air Water’s liquid plant in Udo City has been out of operation on account of power outage since the major quakes. For the backup of liquid, tank trucks from the VSU located in Hōfu City of Yamaguchi Prefecture were used for transportation, while LPG-driven power supply cars (50kW) have been dispatched to drive pumps to take and make delivery of liquid during power outage.

Either of Taiyo Nippon Sanso’s gas centers or onsite gas production facilities had suffered no influence like damage. The company is going to apply for permission on emergency delivery by tank trucks to set up such a transportation system from now on. (Human Relations Department)

Air Liquide Japan’s Kumamoto Gas Center for onsite supply to semiconductor plants had damages on part of the facilities due to the major quakes on April 16, and is now preparing to restart operation checking safety.

Each company is carrying out checking of not only its own equipment, but also the gas supply facilities set up by users on site. Ichiyasu, executive director of Kumamoto Sanso said, “Most users are unable to operate. The major users are doing checking works, but there are some inaccessible areas in the plants due to the aftershocks. Though our company is now checking CE tanks, it is necessary from now on to proceed with leak tests of gas piping routes. It seems we need much more time to restart operations.”
　
With regard to the gas supply for medical requirements related to the lifeline, Teijin Pharma confirmed the safety conditions of 98% of its home oxygen therapy (HOT) patients until 7 o’clock on the next day (15th) of April 14 when the foreshock occurred, and then completed confirmation that all the HOT patients were safe. It is also said that the company keep ascertaining the safety of all the patients after the main shock on 16th and the subsequent aftershocks. Kumamoto Sanso also is giving top priority to the gas supply for medical purposes, according to Ichiyasu, executive director. 　

Kurox’s president Okazaki feels relieved that no falling of cylinder was found after checking with all hospitals concerned, but described the influences exerted by the confusing logistics saying, “We are transporting cylinders for HOT to Kumamoto City, but it takes now two times or more time due to the blocked express highways.”

On 16th, Ōita Prefecture like in Kumamoto observed the maximum 6 or little less on the seismic density scale and is still having aftershocks. Eto Oxygen having a base of business operations in the prefecture is said to have been taking measures to deliver gas by cylinders since the stoppage of electricity and water at a hospital in Yufuin.