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Tsunami warning and advisory issued mainly on the Pacific coast: Situation in each area and response by local governments

Wednesday, July 30


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Analysis and Background


The Japan Meteorological Agency upgraded the tsunami warning issued for Ibaraki Prefecture through Wakayama Prefecture to a tsunami advisory at 6:30 PM on the 30th. Tsunami warnings remain in effect for Hokkaido and Tohoku, so people should continue to stay in safe places.

We have summarized the impact, including the response of local governments in each area.

=Hokkaido=

[Footage] Nemuro Hanasaki Port: Roads flooded

This is footage from around 5:30 pm at Hanasaki Port in Nemuro City, where an 80cm tsunami was observed at 2:57 pm.

In some places, the sea level has reached the height of the quay, and some roads at the port are flooded.

Governor:"Evacuate even after the first wave arrives"

A meeting was held at Hokkaido's Disaster Management Liaison Headquarters around 11:30 AM, attended by Governor Suzuki, who serves as the headquarters' director. A Crisis Management Division official reported that tsunami monitoring is underway across the prefecture, and that they are continuing to check for any damage. Governor Suzuki then stated,"There is a possibility of second and third waves of tsunamis. I urge residents and tourists in areas where a warning has been issued to evacuate to high ground or buildings, and to remain in safe locations until the warning is lifted." He urged people to continue evacuating even after the first wave has arrived. Governor Suzuki then instructed disaster prevention organizations and other organizations to prioritize human life and ensure a thorough response, while continuing to gather information.





About 300 residents and high school students in Mukawa town evacuated to rooftops

At the Mukawa Branch of the Iburi Eastern Fire Department in Hokkaido, approximately 300 residents and high school students from Mukawa town have taken refuge on the roof.

A branch official said,"Since the tsunami warning was issued, the townspeople have been evacuating voluntarily. The roof is about 10 meters higher than the first floor, but we want to do our best to ensure safety."

As of 11:00

Around 50 people evacuated to higher ground in Hiroo town, gazing anxiously at the sea

As of 11:00 a.m., in the town of Hiroo in Hokkaido, where an evacuation order has been issued, around 50 people had taken refuge on hilltop overlooking Tokachi Port, gazing anxiously at the ocean.

A man in his 40s said,"I got information about the tsunami on my smartphone while at work, so I left work early and fled to higher ground. I'm worried because I don't know when I'll be able to return to work. This isn't a drill, but a real evacuation, so I realized it's important to be prepared on a daily basis."

Long line of cars at entrance to Tomakomai park, evacuation likely

Footage taken from the air over Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, at around 11:30 a.m. shows so many cars parked that the parking lot at Midorigaoka Park, located on a hill in the city, is filled to capacity.

A long line of cars can also be seen at the park's entrance. Inside the park, many people who appear to have evacuated by car are seen gathering under a tree.

People were also seen evacuating to Nusamai Park, located on a hill in Kushiro City. A 19-year-old male university student said,"I was sleeping at home, but a tsunami warning was issued, so I evacuated. I was affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, so I'm afraid of tsunamis. I want to stay on high ground until the warning is lifted."

After 9:00

Rausu Town Fisheries Association "We are telling people not to go out to sea"

An official from the fishing cooperative in Rausu Town, in eastern Hokkaido, told NHK in an interview just after 9 a.m.,"Right now, the sea conditions appear to be the same as usual, but we have been informed by the Japan Coast Guard that a tsunami warning has been issued, so we are telling people not to go out to sea. The fishing cooperative is contacting boats that are already out fishing by fax and phone, asking them to keep a close eye on the sea conditions and ensure their safety."

As of 8:45

Kushiro calls for evacuation via disaster prevention radio and other means

According to an official from the Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Division of Kushiro City, Hokkaido, no shaking was felt.

As of 8:45 a.m., there has been no information on damage.

Kushiro City is calling for evacuation via disaster prevention radio and other means.

=Aomori Prefecture=

As of 11:00

Tsunami Disaster Prevention Center in Hachinohe Tsunami Evacuation Building - Approximately 200 people evacuated

As of 11:00 AM, nearly 200 people had evacuated to the Tsunami Disaster Prevention Center in a tsunami evacuation building in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, where an evacuation order was issued. This facility, renovated after the Great East Japan Earthquake, includes a large-capacity hall on the second floor, where evacuees were resting on chairs. A man who evacuated with his family said,"We were together as a family of four when the tsunami warning came out, so we evacuated. We want to wait until the warning is lifted." A woman who was out at a store when she heard the tsunami warning said,"The store staff told us to evacuate, so we walked over. We don't know when the warning will be lifted, but we want to stay here until then." A male employee of an auto repair company said,"We were working at a nearby workplace when the tsunami warning came out. We evacuated with more than 10 people. We hope the warning will be lifted soon."

Tamura Katsunori, director of the Tsunami Disaster Prevention Center, said,"It would be best if there were no need to use this facility, but if there is information about a tsunami, we would like people to use it to evacuate."







Governor: "Please remain evacuated until the warning is lifted"

Aomori Prefecture established a disaster response headquarters in the morning and held its first meeting around 10:30 a.m. The headquarters confirmed the status of cooperation with relevant organizations, including the police and the Japan Meteorological Agency, and will continue to gather information on the tsunami's arrival. After the meeting, Governor Miyashita spoke to reporters and called on residents of coastal areas to"follow the evacuation orders issued by municipalities, respond promptly, and remain evacuated until the warning is lifted." The prefecture will continue to gather information and will hold a second disaster response headquarters meeting on the afternoon of the 30th.





How should nuclear facilities respond?

The Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant in Higashidori Village, Aomori Prefecture, which has been shut down, has suspended work in the port area and is closely monitoring the tsunami situation in preparation for a tsunami. The site faces the Pacific coast and is 13 meters above sea level.

Furthermore, the Oma Nuclear Power Plant, currently under construction in Oma Town, Aomori Prefecture, is 12 meters above sea level. All work on the site has been suspended and workers are being urged to stay away from the coast.

Furthermore, the interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture, is located about 500 meters inland from the coast of the Tsugaru Strait, and the building housing the metal containers containing spent nuclear fuel is 16 meters above sea level. The operator is reportedly monitoring the situation at a marine monitoring station on high ground to ensure there are no impacts to the facility.

On the other hand, facilities such as the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, are all located on high ground at an altitude of more than 50 meters, so they are not expected to be affected by the tsunami.

As of 10:30

At the evacuation center set up in Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai

An evacuation shelter was set up at Arai Elementary School in Sendai's Wakabayashi Ward, about 5 kilometers inland from the coast, and as of 10:30 a.m., more than 10 people had evacuated there. Evacuees were watching television to check tsunami information. A man in his 40s living in Sendai's Miyagino Ward said,"When the tsunami warning was issued, I was working in a nearby office, but I told others to evacuate and came to the evacuation shelter myself. The tsunamis from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Chilean earthquake crossed my mind, and I immediately decided to evacuate." A woman in her 30s living in Wakabayashi Ward, who evacuated with her child, said,"I was so worried that something might happen to my child that I rushed to the evacuation shelter, pushing a stroller and getting drenched in sweat. I haven't experienced an earthquake myself, but I'm worried about tsunamis."

Arai Elementary School principal Michiko Wagatsuma, who was in charge of setting up the evacuation shelter, said,"After the tsunami warning was issued, people came to the school to take refuge within 10 minutes, so we opened the evacuation shelter without waiting for instructions from the Board of Education. We will continue to do everything we can as a school, making life our top priority."





Around 9:30

People evacuated to Hiyoriyama Park one after another.

In Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, where a tsunami warning was issued, people were gathering one after another at a park on high ground to evacuate.

Around 9:30 a.m., around 30 people had evacuated to Hiyoriyama Park, anxiously gazing out at the sea and calling their families by phone.

Many people also gathered under roofs to avoid the sun, and some were seen buying drinks from nearby vending machines. Around 20 cars were parked on the shoulder of the road near the park, and people who had evacuated by car were watching the sea from inside.

A man in his 70s who had evacuated said,"I was at the hospital in front of Ishinomaki Station, but my appointments were canceled, so I fled towards the mountains. An advisory and a warning are completely different, so I decided to head for higher ground for now."

Sendai to open evacuation shelters

In response to the tsunami warning and evacuation orders issued for the coastal areas east of the Shiogama-Watari Prefectural Road and the Eastern Reconstruction Road, Sendai City will open evacuation shelters in 62 locations within the city. The city has set up a disaster response headquarters to collect information and call for evacuation via disaster prevention administrative radio.

Inter-high school soccer tournament postponed in Naraha Town and other areas

Following the tsunami warning, all soccer matches scheduled for the 30th at the National High School Inter-High School Championships, held in Fukushima Prefecture and Hokkaido, have been postponed to the 31st.

According to the All Japan High School Athletic Federation, two quarterfinal matches for the boys' tournament, held at J-Village in Naraha Town, Fukushima Prefecture, were scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., but were suspended after the first half following the tsunami warning.

As the warning continued, the matches were postponed, with the remaining second halves scheduled to be played on the 31st.

Four second-round matches for the girls' tournament, scheduled to take place in Muroran and Date, Hokkaido, have also been postponed to the 31st.

Minamisoma evacuation center:"Residents began evacuating as soon as the warning was issued"

A teacher at an elementary school in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, where a gymnasium has been designated as an evacuation shelter, said,"It was summer vacation so there were no children there, so there was no need to evacuate, but we prepared to open an evacuation shelter in the gymnasium. Since the warning was changed to an alert, several nearby residents have been evacuating."

Several local governments have banned swimming

A total of eight swimming beaches have been opened in the Fukushima coastal cities of Iwaki, Soma, Minamisoma, Naraha, and Shinchi. However, following the issuance of the tsunami warning, all local governments have banned swimming and are urging people to stay away from the coast via disaster prevention radio and other means. Shinchi has also called for the closure of its"sea fishing park" at Soma Port, urging people to stay away from the coast.

=Iwate Prefecture=

Kamaishi temple evacuation site provides hydration and air conditioning to combat heatstroke

A temple on high ground serving as an evacuation site in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, is taking measures to prevent heatstroke by encouraging evacuees to stay hydrated and using air conditioning indoors. Evacuation orders have been issued to 11,382 people in 6,362 households in Kamaishi City, located in the tsunami inundation zone. Senjuin Temple in Otadakoshi Town, which is also serving as an evacuation site on high ground, is accepting approximately 200 evacuees. Indoors, air conditioning is being used to prevent heatstroke, and city and temple officials are urging people to drink fluids frequently. Around noon, rice balls and tea were being served to evacuees. A woman in her 80s who evacuated said,"I was planning to go to a day care center, but I heard the tsunami warning and fled. I still feel anxious, but I'm very grateful that places like this exist."

The head priest of Senjyuin Temple, Shibasaki Keiou, said,"I hope it doesn't turn into a major disaster. We are especially careful to ensure that children do not feel anxious."





Evacuated residents of Kuji say they hope the warning will be lifted soon

In response to the tsunami warning, people living nearby evacuated to the General Welfare Center in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, which was being used as an evacuation shelter. As of noon on the 30th, approximately 130 people had evacuated.

A man in his 80s who lives nearby said,"I heard the TV and the disaster prevention radio and knew we should evacuate. I was surprised to see so many people already evacuated."

Another woman in her 80s who evacuated with her family said,"Earthquakes without shaking are scary because you can't notice them. At the evacuation shelter, there are other people there, so it's safe."

A fifth-grade boy who evacuated from an after-school club said,"We climbed the mountain to evacuate, being careful not to leave our first-grader behind. The evacuation shelter is unsettling, so I hope the warning will be lifted soon so I can see my family."

A man in his 40s who evacuated with his baby said,"The temperature in Kuji City is relatively low today, and I thought it would be crowded, so I walked. I hope the warning will be lifted soon."

=Tokyo=

12:00~

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government holds a task force meeting

Following the issuance of a tsunami warning for the Ogasawara Islands and the Izu Islands, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held a countermeasure headquarters meeting at noon, chaired by Governor Koike.

At the meeting, disaster officials reported that as of 11:00 a.m., no damage had been confirmed and the evacuation status of municipalities where tsunami warnings had been issued.

Governor Koike stated,"Putting human life first, I ask that you work closely with wards, cities, towns, and villages, and do your utmost to gather accurate information and appeal to residents," instructing them to do everything possible to disseminate information to Tokyo residents and urge them to be vigilant.

As of 11:00

Island local governments:"Don't go near the sea"

In response to the tsunami warning, local governments on Tokyo's islands are urging people to stay away from the sea and setting up evacuation centers.

Oshima Town is using its disaster prevention radio system to urge people to stay away from the sea. It has set up 10 evacuation centers.

Niijima Village is using its disaster prevention radio system to urge people to evacuate to higher ground. It plans to set up three evacuation centers.

Miyake Village is using its disaster prevention radio system to urge people to evacuate to higher ground and to stay away from the coast. It has set up five evacuation centers, and as of 11:00 AM, 16 people have evacuated.

Hachijo Town is using its disaster prevention radio system to urge people to stay away from the coast. It has set up three evacuation centers.

Ogasawara Village has set up five evacuation centers, four on Chichijima and one on Hahajima.

Toshima Village is using its disaster prevention administrative radio to urge people to stay away from areas near the coast. As of 11:00, no evacuation shelters have been opened.

Kozushima Village is using its disaster prevention administrative radio to urge people to evacuate to a safe location. One evacuation shelter has been set up.

Mikurajima Village is using its disaster prevention administrative radio to urge people to be careful and is gathering information.

Aogashima Village is using its disaster prevention administrative radio to urge people to evacuate from areas near the coast. As of 11:00, no evacuation shelters have been opened.

Evacuation orders issued for Odaiba beaches

Following the issuance of the tsunami warning, Minato Ward in Tokyo has issued evacuation orders for the Odaiba beach and is urging people to stay away from the sea.

=Chiba Prefecture=

Prefecture strengthens information gathering system

Following the issuance of a tsunami warning for Kujukuri, the outer Boso Peninsula, and the inner Boso Peninsula, and a tsunami advisory for Tokyo Bay, Chiba Prefecture is strengthening its information-gathering capabilities.

The prefecture has dispatched"liaison" officials, who gather information from each local government and coordinate with the prefecture, to confirm evacuation information and the readiness of officials. It also plans to use a prefectural police helicopter to monitor the situation from the air along the coast.

Around 11:00

Kujukuri Beach White waves rising up the river

This is footage taken from the air above Kujukuri Beach in eastern Chiba Prefecture.

The tsunami was expected to arrive at Kujukuri at 10:30 AM, and by around 11 AM, waves could be seen crashing onto the coast one after another, creating whitecaps from the sea and flowing up the river.

Seawater appears to be flowing upstream near the mouth of the Sosa River

The video was taken just after 11:00 a.m. from above Sosa City in northeastern Chiba Prefecture.

White waves were repeatedly crashing onto the shore, and it appeared as if seawater was flowing upstream near the river mouth.

As of 11:00

Choshi City Fisheries Cooperative Association:"Employees evacuated to nearby high ground"

According to the Choshi City Fisheries Cooperative Association in Chiba Prefecture, following the issuance of the tsunami warning, employees working at ports in the city and elsewhere have evacuated to nearby higher ground.

Furthermore, fishing boats that set sail on the 30th have already finished unloading their catches, and as of 11:00 a.m., many of the boats have evacuated offshore.

=Kanagawa Prefecture=

Kamakura City Hall and assembly hall crowded with evacuated residents and tourists

Following the issuance of the tsunami warning, Kamakura City Hall in Kanagawa Prefecture was reportedly crowded with many residents and tourists seeking evacuation.

The city has opened the hall lobby, auditorium, and city council meeting hall to accommodate evacuees.

The number of evacuees has reached approximately 1,000, and the city is responding by distributing water and emergency food.

Kamakura City Hall is located 9.4 meters above sea level, about 300 meters from JR Kamakura Station.

As of 10:40

Evacuation calls to the prefecture's 17 fishing cooperatives

According to the Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Division, following the issuance of the tsunami warning, the prefecture is calling on the 17 fishing cooperatives in the prefecture to evacuate. The prefecture will continue to keep in contact with the fishing cooperatives and gather information.

Manazuru Town opens evacuation shelter

Following the issuance of the tsunami warning, the town of Manazuru in Kanagawa Prefecture has been calling on residents to evacuate to higher ground away from the coast via its disaster prevention radio system, and fire corps and other organizations are patrolling the coastal areas. Evacuation shelters have also been set up at the town center and the Manazuru Town Information Center.

9:40

Yokosuka Coast Guard issues evacuation advisory to ships in Manazuru Port

In response to the tsunami warning, the Yokosuka Coast Guard issued an evacuation advisory at 9:40 a.m. to ships at Yokosuka Port in Yokosuka City, Misaki Port in Miura City, and Manazuru Port in Manazuru Town. The Coast Guard is urging ships in the ports to evacuate to safer locations outside the ports if possible.

Information collected from municipalities and related organizations in Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture is currently gathering information from coastal municipalities and related organizations.

As of 9:10

Swimming is prohibited at Oarai Sun Beach

According to the town of Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture, swimming at Oarai Sun Beach has been banned and people are being urged to stay away from the coast. They are also making arrangements to set up an evacuation shelter at the town's central community center.

=Shizuoka Prefecture=

Shimoda: Residents and tourists evacuated one after another

In Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where an evacuation order has been issued, evacuation shelters have been opened and residents and tourists are evacuating one after another.

One of these shelters is Shimoda Junior High School, which is located on high ground. Visitors and users of nearby day care centers have been evacuating one after another since before 11:00 a.m.

A woman from Tokyo said,"I walked about 20 minutes from Shimoda Station on the Izukyu Line. I never expected something like this to happen."

A man who had guided overseas tourists to the evacuation shelter said,"There were many foreign tourists at the station. Some of them didn't know about tsunamis and seemed confused, so I evacuated with them."

All visitors from three Atami beaches have already been evacuated

According to Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, all beachgoers have already been evacuated from three beaches in the city: Atami Sun Beach, Nagahama Beach, and Ajiro Onsen Beach.

Also, city officials are urging beachgoers to evacuate their cars in the parking lot at Nagahama Beach.

Closing flood gates in Toba City, Mie Prefecture

According to the fire department, they will be working to close the flood gates installed in Toba City, Mie Prefecture.

=Wakayama Prefecture=

Around 11:00

Prefectural disaster response headquarters meeting

Wakayama Prefecture held a disaster response headquarters meeting at 11:00 a.m. and confirmed that it would thoroughly call for evacuation and make every effort to gather information.

After 11:30

People inside JR Wakayama Station are being asked to evacuate to higher ground

At JR Wakayama Station in Wakayama City, where an evacuation order has been issued, people inside the station were urged to evacuate to higher ground.

A little after 11:30 a.m., station staff repeatedly called out over a loudspeaker,"Please evacuate to higher ground," as tourists and students in uniforms evacuated outside the station. The doors to the station were then locked, preventing anyone from entering.

Shingu City to open evacuation shelters in 10 locations

The city of Shingu in southern Wakayama Prefecture held a disaster response headquarters meeting at 9:50 a.m. to discuss future responses.

According to the city, evacuation shelters will be opened in 10 locations within the city as soon as preparations are complete, and fire departments are urging people to stay away from coastal areas. Furthermore, as regular classes are being held today at elementary and junior high schools in the city, children and students have been evacuated to the second floor or higher of buildings, and future responses are currently being considered.

As of 10:00

Hidaka Town Special Nursing Home:"Evacuate to higher floors"

A staff member at a special nursing home on the coast of Hidaka Town, Wakayama Prefecture, said,"The sea is right next to our facility, but as of 10 a.m. the situation appears to be the same as usual. We plan to evacuate the elderly on the first floor to the second and third floors."

Tahara: Evacuating to the sports park in the heat

In Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture, dozens of people are evacuating to a sports park about one kilometer from the sea. Spot coolers have been installed in the park's gymnasium, and some people were seen fanning themselves to beat the heat. City officials also provided water and other items to those who had parked their cars in the shade of the parking lot, telling them to contact them if they felt unwell. A 90-year-old man said,"I learned about the tsunami when I got a call from my wife on her cell phone and saw it on TV. At first, about 10 of us evacuated to a nearby hill, but we felt unsafe, so we evacuated in our car." Regarding evacuation in the heat, he said,"We have some shade now, but it would be terrible if it disappeared. The city officials who came on patrol told us, 'It may be difficult, but please bear with us until the alert is lifted,' so we're going to try our best."







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