Tips on what to do if a tsunami warning is issued at a beach in Japan
In areas where there is a tsunami risk, you will find warning signs indicating "tsunami caution." When spending time in such zones, it's vital to confirm evacuation routes in advance.
Look for signs like "tsunami evacuation area" and "tsunami evacuation building" at the nearest high ground or designated buildings. These markers guide you to safe locations.
On the beach, tsunami warnings and advisories may be announced via sirens or disaster-prevention radio. However, if you are in the water, these alerts can be masked by the noise of waves and wind. To address this, lifeguards and others make use of red-and-white checkered "tsunami flags." When a warning or advisory is issued, they wave this flag toward the sea to call on people to evacuate quickly. The flag is also an effective way for people with hearing difficulties to detect danger.
A tsunami can reach shore within just a few minutes of an earthquake, in the fastest cases. Depending on local coastal geography, wave heights may be amplified in certain areas.
The force of a tsunami is considerable -- people can be swept away even by waves only about 20 to 30 centimeters high. The Japan Meteorological Agency issues tsunami advisories when waves of 20 cm or more are expected.
Tsunamis can strike repeatedly, so you must continue to evacuate until all warnings and advisories have been lifted.
This information was shared by the Public Relations Office of the national government's Cabinet Office ahead of peak beach season, before the recent magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and related tsunami alerts. An official urges, "If you encounter a tsunami warning or advisory, leave the sea at once, get away from the coast, and evacuate to higher, safe ground."
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