A man in Japan has been dramatically rescued after his home's floor collapsed, burying him alive. The local emergency services quickly responded to the incident and were able to safely extract him from the debris. The event has raised concerns about building inspection protocols and maintenance regulations concerning aging homes in the country.
In Japan, older, non-retrofitted homes that do not meet the current building code are becoming a subject of major concern. The event has increased the sense of urgency to review the standards and procedures for assessing residential safety, with public calling for more stringent control mechanisms.
In countries like the US and EU, stringent building codes exist, accompanied by regular safety checks, particularly regarding older houses. Residential collapses like these usually happen in areas where those rules are less strictly enforced. Policies regarding building safety and maintenance are developed in cooperation with housing and urban development authorities.