SAKIGAKE管理人 On May 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass was solemnly held at the Vatican. During the ceremony, he reflected on the flood disasters he witnessed during his missionary work in Peru and emphasized the importance of international solidarity and preparedness against climate-related risks. His words offered compassion to those living in disaster-prone areas and served as a call for us all to raise our awareness of disaster prevention.
In this article, we revisit recent major floods that have struck Peru and, from the perspective of a disaster prevention company, explore what could have been done to reduce the damage and what international cooperation should look like moving forward.
Repeated Flood Disasters in Peru
Due to El Niño and other climatic anomalies, Peru has faced severe flooding in recent years, notably in 2017 and 2023.
- 2017: Major floods and landslides from March to April killed over 90 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes, and severely impacted agriculture and infrastructure.
- 2023: Heavy rains struck northern regions such as Piura, forcing over 50,000 people to evacuate. Urban functions were paralyzed, affecting logistics and healthcare systems.
These disasters were exacerbated by rapid urbanization, underdeveloped drainage systems, and a general lack of preparedness against climate change.
Floods Are Not “Unpredictable Disasters”
Floods are not entirely unforeseeable events. With advancements in AI, cloud technology, and monitoring systems, it’s possible to mitigate damage through early warning systems, evacuation planning, and proactive infrastructure management.
Here are some of the disaster prevention solutions SAKIGAKE JAPAN offers:
Climate Vision / Water Vision
A platform using AI and cloud systems to visualize flood and storm risks in real-time, aiding decision-making for municipalities and infrastructure managers.
DIPPS Cloud
A portable subsurface monitoring system that detects soil tilt and moisture changes to anticipate landslides and floods, especially in mountainous or riverside regions.
Cold Storage Box Portable
A mobile refrigeration unit powered by solar energy, useful for preserving food and medicine in evacuation shelters or field medical stations during power outages.
A Global Fight Against Disaster
Pope Leo XIV’s remarks resonated because disasters disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. Flooding isn’t just an infrastructure issue—it threatens livelihoods, education, healthcare, and lives.
That’s why implementing disaster prevention technology must go beyond product development. It requires trained personnel, localized customization, and collaboration with both government and communities.
In Conclusion
The floods in Peru are not just someone else’s problem. As global climate change accelerates, similar disasters occur yearly in Japan and around the world. What happens “far away” today may happen “right here” tomorrow.
SAKIGAKE JAPAN will continue to tackle disaster risk and promote innovative disaster prevention technologies with a global perspective.