Online Interest in Evacuation Shelters in Japan: Infodemiology Study Using One of Japan’s Most Frequently Used Search Engines

Introduction: Evacuation shelters are essential temporary accommodations during disasters. However, concerns regarding shelter conditions, including safety and comfort, persist. Currently, the Internet is the most widely used source of information. This study aimed to investigate public interest in evacuation shelters in Japan by analyzing online search trends. Methods: Monthly search volumes for search queries were obtained from Yahoo! JAPAN, one of the most frequently used search engines in Japan. The search volume data were obtained from the Yahoo! Japan DS INSIGHT server. We tracked the search volumes for “evacuation shelters” from 2020 to the most recent date, focusing on trends before and after the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024. In addition, we analyzed search queries that included terms related to shelters to assess changes in interest. Results: The estimated search volume for “evacuation shelters” was 600 in December 2023, which increased to 13,200 in February 2024. In January 2024, searches for sexual assault countermeasures in shelters showed the most significant increase, rising by 13,750% from December 2023 to 5,500. Similar search terms were “shelter sexual harm examples” and “shelter sexual harm,” with 5,100 and 2,100 searches, respectively. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that public concern about safety in evacuation shelters has increased rapidly in the wake of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Concerns about sexual assault were prominent, strongly suggesting a need for countermeasures. These results highlight the importance of strengthening measures to prevent sexual assault and providing information tailored to the needs of the population in the management of evacuation centers, which will contribute significantly to the realization of safer and more secure evacuation centers.