A powerful undersea earthquake off Russia’s Far East on Wednesday prompted tsunami warnings along Japan’s Pacific coast, sending millions of residents scrambling for safety and reviving haunting memories of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Television screens across the country lit up with red-alert banners reading “TSUNAMI! EVACUATE!” as broadcasters cut regular programming to deliver urgent evacuation orders. At public broadcaster NHK, one anchor implored viewers, “Do not be glued to the screen. Evacuate now!”
The warnings stirred painful recollections of March 11, 2011, when a 9.0-magnitude quake triggered towering tsunami waves that devastated northeastern Japan and caused the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Over 15,000 people were killed in the disaster, with many unable to reach higher ground in time.
More than 2 million people were urged to evacuate coastal areas on Wednesday. In Fukushima, residents responded swiftly. “When the earthquake struck before, everyone evacuated to higher ground, so I thought about doing the same,” a woman told NHK.
At the Fukushima nuclear facility, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), decommissioning work was temporarily halted as workers in low-lying areas evacuated. A company spokesperson confirmed the precautionary move posed no safety risks.
In Mie Prefecture, tragedy struck when a 58-year-old woman died after her vehicle plunged off a cliff during evacuation, according to TV Asahi.
Despite the trauma of 3.11, how locals refer to the 2011 disaster, many residents credited it with instilling a deep sense of preparedness. In Iwate Prefecture, a postal worker remembered being at the same post office 14 years ago. “This time, all of us said, ‘let’s evacuate quickly,’” he told NHK.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami waves could continue for up to 24 hours, urging continued vigilance even as initial waves subsided.
Wednesday’s alert served as a stark reminder of the enduring vulnerability of Japan’s coastline and the importance of heeding early warnings. For many, the fear was all too familiar, but so too was the hard-earned resolve to survive.
Written By Rodney Mbua
