Prime Minister Ishiba of Japan Urges Evacuation of Residents in Tsunami Areas, Focuses on Damage Prevention

【Tokyo=Kim Kyung-min Correspondent】 Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan (photo) instructed on the 30th to urge residents of the Pacific coastal areas from Hokkaido to Wakayama Prefecture to evacuate promptly and to focus on government-level damage prevention measures, in relation to the tsunami warning issued due to the magnitude 8.7 earthquake near the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia.
Ishiba instructed at an emergency meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office that "the government is currently assessing the damage situation," and "to thoroughly implement damage prevention measures such as resident evacuation, to quickly assess the damage situation, and to cooperate closely with local governments to prioritize human life, with the government responding as one."
He further emphasized that "at present, we are receiving reports that human and material damage is being confirmed, and the government is continuing to respond with utmost care."
Ishiba also stated, "Residents in areas where the warning has been issued should evacuate immediately to safe places such as high ground or disaster prevention buildings," and "since the second and third waves could come in larger sizes after the tsunami arrives, please pay special attention to tsunami-related information and do not leave safe areas until the warning is lifted."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter