Disaster Preparedness | Staying Safe and Deciding When to Evacuate During an Earthquake, Set 1

During strong shaking, first protect yourself from falling objects and overturning furniture. Shield your head under a sturdy table and wait for the shaking to stop. Rushing outside could expose you to falling glass or exterior building materials.

In this situation, protect yourself before approaching an area exposed to falling objects. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency advises waiting until strong shaking stops before calmly turning off the heat. Holding the cupboard could also expose you to an overturning cabinet or flying dishes.

Concrete block walls can collapse, while glass and roof tiles may fall from buildings. Move away from them while watching for traffic, and protect your head with a bag or similar item. Moving closer to the wall or eaves increases exposure to collapsing or falling objects.

Strong shaking may arrive only seconds to a few tens of seconds after an earthquake early warning, and the warning may be too late near the epicenter. Use the limited time to move away from falling objects and protect your head. Searching for details or collecting belongings delays immediate safety action.

During an earthquake, the general rule is to press every floor button and leave at the first stop after checking that floor for danger. If trapped, do not force the doors open; contact help using the emergency call button. Entering the shaft could cause a fatal accident.

Near the coast, even weak shaking that lasts a long time is a reason to begin tsunami evacuation. Do not wait for a warning or a visible change in the sea; move immediately to higher ground. Tsunami waves can arrive repeatedly, so remain in a safe place until the warning is lifted.

Sudden steering or braking can cause a crash involving nearby vehicles. Watch the traffic around you, slow gradually, stop safely on the left, and then check earthquake and traffic information. If you later need to leave the vehicle, do not abandon it where it would obstruct evacuation or emergency operations.

Official information is important, but you should not wait for an instruction when a specific danger is approaching your location. Move away to a safe place. Approaching the slope increases the danger, while general information calls to the fire department could interfere with emergency response.

If it is safe to do so before leaving, turn off the circuit breaker and close the main gas valve to reduce the risk of a secondary fire. However, if fire, a suspected gas leak, or structural failure presents an immediate danger, evacuate rather than remaining to operate them.

If your current location is safe, avoid joining a mass return home. Stay in a safe place while checking official information and your family's safety. Crowds at stations and on roads can cause accidents and obstruct rescue or firefighting. If your current location becomes dangerous, evacuate to safety rather than focusing on reaching home.