Human Stampede

BOSAI: Science that Can Save Your Life • Season 1 • Episode 17

About this episode

What is a human stampede? It is a disaster in which people are so crowded together that they push and squeeze against each other, making it hard to breathe. It can also cause a person to fall, triggering a domino effect that results in casualties. In the past, human stampedes have taken the lives of countless people. In Japan, there is a high risk of a mega-quake hitting directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area in the near future. If this occurs, up to 8 million people are expected to be stranded in the city, creating a high possibility of human stampedes. What can we do to prevent casualties? Find out about the latest research on crowd safety.