Japan considers elevator reform after earthquake

June 9, 2015 In Japan the infrastructure ministry and the elevator industry have agreed that elevators should have supplies like drinking water and conveniences like portable toilets for instances of emergency stoppages after earthquakes. The agreement was reached at a meeting after a magnitude-8.1 earthquake struck near islands south of Tokyo on the 30^th of May. The earthquake caused about 19,000 elevators to stop in the capital and neighboring areas with people getting trapped temporarily in 14 elevators. Thankfully, no deaths were reported.

The ministry has also issued warnings that building management companies should make plans to quickly evacuate high-rises, after many residents on the upper floors of condo buildings found it difficult to get out with elevator operations suspended during the latest quake.