Japan lacks enough underground shelters to withstand missile attacks

Municipalities struggle to find suitable sites with nationwide coverage at 5%

Long-range missiles were deployed to a Ground Self-Defense Force base in the city of Kumamoto in late March. (Photo by Kosuke Kondo)

KUMAMOTO, Japan/TOKYO -- Local governments in Japan are having difficulty providing enough underground shelters for residents, including around such facilities as Self-Defense Forces bases and nuclear power plants, with only 5% of the population nationwide covered.