TOKYO (Asahi News Service)- Twenty percent of victims of the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a survey released June 18 by the National Police Agency.

The survey showed 10 percent of the victims of the attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult not only suffer from PTSD, but also have experienced some form of deterioration in their physical health.

The NPA surveyed 1,477 victims in March last year, five years after the incident, and received 837 valid responses.

Another survey released June 18 by a group of 160 victims of the attack showed many of them feel that the trials of cult members are proceeding too slowly.

The group polled 74 of its members in April and had received 31 valid responses by the end of May.

Although the trial of Aum Shinrikyo leader Chizuo Matsumoto will reach its 200th day June 22, it is still unclear when it will end.

In the attack believed masterminded by Matsumoto, Aum members released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway system, killing 12 people and injuring more than 5,000.

The NPA survey showed 20 percent of the victims felt scared to get on a train, while 10 percent said they were unable to watch or listen to reports related to the incident. The survey also showed 43 percent of sarin victims have flashbacks.

The NPA, which conducted a similar survey in 1998, also sought to determine the changes in the physical and mental health of the victims.

One-third of respondents said their health had improved since 1998, while 9.6 percent said it had deteriorated.

Most of the victims have suffered from impaired vision since the attack. The percentage of respondents who said their vision had worsened increased this year, compared with the survey in 1998.

"It became apparent that the harm to the victims persists," the agency said. It said it would address the issue of help for victims still suffering as a result of the attack as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Shizue Takahashi, a representative of the victims' group, said at a news conference June 18 the trials of cult members should be conducted speedily.

Kenji Utsunomiya, leading counsel for the victims, said the government should provide free health checks for victims still suffering from the aftereffects of the attack.

Copyright 2001 Asahi News Service. All rights reserved.