Summary: On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, prompting patient evacuations at several hospitals. We investigated the primary causes of hospital evacuations during the acute phase. From July to September 2024, surveys were conducted at seven of the nine emergency-designated hospitals located in northern and central Noto, as well as at two emergency-designated hospitals in Kanazawa City. These surveys covered damage to infrastructure, buildings, and staff, along with basic hospital information such as patient numbers, bed capacity, and the number of dialysis patients. On-site interviews were also conducted. Based on this information, we analyzed the hospitals that carried out patient evacuations and the causes for these evacuations. Out of the nine hospitals surveyed, six conducted patient evacuations. An analysis of the causes of patient evacuations within the first 72 hours following the disaster, focusing on the relationship between evacuations and factors such as water supply disruptions, power outages, gas supply interruptions, and building damage, revealed that seven hospitals experienced water supply disruptions. Among these, five hospitals evacuated dialysis patients. Of the two hospitals that did not conduct evacuations, one had no dialysis patients at the time of the disaster. At the same time, the other was able to continue dialysis services due to sufficient water provision from external support, despite the water disruption. After 72 hours following the disaster, evacuations were also conducted due to building damage, and transfers of patients with chronic illnesses were carried out. During the acute phase of a disaster, the transfer of dialysis patients may become necessary due to disruptions in water and sewage systems, even if there is no risk of building collapse. It is therefore essential to reinforce water and sewage infrastructure, utilize well water, and enhance water supply systems for use during disasters.
Hayashi et al. (Sun,) studied this question.