In Japan, tsunami warning resurfaces memories of Fukushima disaster
TOKYO (Reuters) -Residents across Japan's Pacific coast rushed to higher ground on Wednesday as tsunami warnings following a massive earthquake off Russia's Far East resurfaced painful memories and lessons from the devastating 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster.
Television banners flashed "TSUNAMI! EVACUATE!" and similar warnings as most broadcasters cut regular programming to issue warnings and focus on evacuation orders, as tsunami waves approached Japan's shores.
"Do not be glued to the screen. Evacuate now!" a news presenter at public broadcaster NHK shouted.
The warnings resurfaced memories of the March 11, 2011, earthquake, when more than 15,000 people died after a 9.0-magnitude tremor triggered a massive tsunami that tore through the Fukushima nuclear power plant and caused a radioactive disaster.
Many residents were unable to reach higher ground in time as surging waters from waves that were dozens of metres highengulfed much of the country's northeastern coast.
On Wednesday, residents recalled those events as evacuationwarnings were issued.
"When the earthquake struck before, everyone evacuated to higher ground so I thought about doing the same," a woman in Fukushima told NHK.
Workers in low-lying areas of Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima nuclear facility suspended their decommissioning after the evacuation warning was issued and fled to higher ground. A spokesperson said the evacuation did not pose a safety concern.
More than 2 million people along the Pacific coast were also instructed to head to safer areas. Many recalled lessons learnt from the 2011 disaster - known to locals as "3.11" - and braved heatstroke risks in the intense summer to reach higher ground.
In Japan's coastal Mie prefecture, a 58-year-old woman died when her car fell off a cliff while she was evacuating, broadcaster TV Asahi reported.
An official at the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami waves could continue to hit for a day or more.
"I was at the same post office 14 years ago," a male postal office worker in Iwate prefecture told NHK.
"This time, all of us said 'let's evacuate quickly.'"
(Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Saad Sayeed)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Major French wildfire is unlikely to be under control until late on Sunday
A firefighter is silhouetted while conducting a water rescue operation at sunset amid land scorched by a wildfire near Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, southern France, August 7, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY PARIS (Reuters) -A wildfire in the southern French prefecture of Aude is not expected to be under control until late on Sunday, the regional chief firefighter said on French television. The fire, which began Tuesday, is one of the largest recorded in France since 1949. Spread over 16,000 hectares (around 40,000 acres), it has led to one fatality, the injury of 19 firefighters and six civilians, and several dozen homes have been destroyed. "The fire is contained but not controlled. We still have hot spots (...) until Sunday evening the fire will not be brought under control," Colonel Christophe Magny told a news conference broadcast on BFM TV. All of the local departmental roads have been reopened, but the entrance into the wildfire zone is prohibited due to the risk of rekindling, the local French prefecture said in a statement on Saturday. French authorities have attributed the fire to the impact of climate change. An orange heatwave warning - the second highest warning level that encourages people to remain vigilant - is in effect for the department until midnight on Sunday, the prefecture said. Before the fire began, the region's wine growers had dug up an extensive area of their vineyards, which traditionally serve as a natural, moisture-retentive firebreak, as declining wine consumption and subsidies have reduced profits. (Reporting by Forrest Crellin and Claude Chendjou; editing by Barbara Lewis)
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Greece wildfire contained but evacuations continue amid strong winds
ATHENS: A wildfire on the outskirts of Athens was contained on Saturday morning, but evacuations continued as strong winds were forecast for the weekend. At least one person died and homes and farmlands were destroyed on Friday as wildfires, fueled by gale-force winds, spread across Greece. The worst blaze occurred in Keratea, southwest of Athens, where firefighters found the body of an elderly man in a burned-out building. A fire brigade spokesperson confirmed the fire was under control but not fully extinguished. Greece and other Mediterranean nations face increasing wildfire risks due to climate change, scientists warn. The region around Athens has seen minimal rainfall in months, worsening fire conditions. Wind gusts of up to 80 kph fanned flames in Keratea, igniting olive orchards and engulfing homes. Locals wearing makeshift masks helped firefighters as police conducted late-night evacuations. Smoke still lingered over the area on Saturday, with images showing gutted houses. Fires near Ancient Olympia and Kefalonia also appeared to subside. - Reuters
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Greece wildfire contained but strong winds prompt evacuations
ATHENS (Reuters) -A wildfire on the outskirts of Athens was contained on Saturday morning, but evacuations of at-risk areas continued as strong winds were expected through the weekend. At least one person died and homes and farmlands were destroyed on Friday as wildfires stoked by gale-force winds broke out across Greece, from near the capital to regions around the historical site of Ancient Olympia. The worst blaze broke out in the small town of Keratea, southwest of the capital, where firefighters discovered the body of an elderly man in a burned-out structure. A fire brigade spokesperson said on Saturday the fire there was under control but not out. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hot spot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach. Much of the region around Athens has had barely a drop of rain in months. Wind gusts of up to 80 kph (50 mph) fanned the flames around Keratea on Friday, setting olive orchards alight. Homes were engulfed as locals wearing flimsy face masks assisted firefighters. Police went door to door late at night making sure that homes had been evacuated. Much of the area smouldered on Saturday morning, and images on local media showed houses gutted by fire. Other blazes in the region of Ancient Olympia and on the touristy island of Kefalonia appeared to have abated also. (Reporting by Edward McAllister, Michele Kambas and Vania Turner; Editing by William Mallard)
