The Fire and Disaster Management Agency plans to deploy unmanned water-cannon robots to emergency fire assistance teams nationwide, aiming to enhance disaster response and firefighter safety. The initiative follows lessons learned from the Jan.1 Noto Peninsula earthquake, where delayed firefighting efforts in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, exacerbated damage due to a major tsunami warning. The robots, remotely operated, can navigate fire sites even during earthquakes or tsunami warnings. They will receive water from fire engines to suppress flames and are equipped with water curtain nozzles to prevent the spread of fire by creating a barrier against flying embers. The plan is for the robots to be used in hazardous situations where firefighters cannot safely approach the scene.