Category: Tsunamis Observed in Japan after Kamchatka Quake

When tsunami warnings were issued across parts of Japan on July 30, tens of thousands of residents were urged to evacuate coastal areas. However for some elderly and disabled people, evacuation proved either extremely difficult or impossible. An 80-year-old woman in Iwaki, caring for her 86-year-old husband who uses a wheelchair, explained her dilemma: “It’s physically impossible for me to push his wheelchair to the local elementary and junior high schools designated as evacuation centers. And there’s no way I’ll go and leave my husband behind.”

All ’Tsunami Warnings’ are now lifted, and at the time of recording, only some ‘advisories’ for northern and eastern Japan remained. The government on Tuesday approved expanded disaster relief to better support the elderly and people with disabilities during emergencies, including armed attacks. There are concerns about disaster-related deaths, as some evacuees die due to their health deteriorating after evacuation. The government also sees a need to strengthen protection for evacuees in the event of armed attacks.