Tokyo Life
When an Earthquake Occurs
*This article originally appeared on a website operated by Tokyo International Communication.
Japan is a country with frequent earthquakes. An earthquake can occur anywhere at any time. What should you do if there's a major earthquake? Here are some tips.
When You Feel Strong Shaking
If you are at home
Get under a nearby table or desk.
This will protect your body from falling objects.
If there's nothing to get under, cover your head with a cushion or magazines.
Don't rush outside.
Wait until the strong shaking stops before going outside.
If you rush out in the middle, you could fall or be hit by a falling object and injure yourself.
Turn off any open flames.
When the shaking has calmed down, turn off any open flames such as stoves or heaters.
Stay away from open flames when the shaking is strong.
Clear an exit path.
When the shaking calms down, clear a path for evacuating.
Open a window, door, or entryway.
If you are outside
Walking on the road
It's dangerous close to buildings. Window glass and signs could fall down.
It's also dangerous close to concrete-block walls and vending machines, as these could also fall down.
Protect your head with a bag or other object and run into a building or underground.
At office
Get under a nearby table or desk.
It's dangerous close to cabinets and copy machines. These heavy objects could fall or hit you.
It's also dangerous close to windows, as they could break and the glass could fall.
Run to a place where nothing is close enough to fall and hit you.
On an Elevator
Press the buttons for all of the floors. Get off as soon as you can at the first floor where it stops.
If the doors don't open, press the "Emergency" button to call for help.
On a train or bus
Trains and buses may stop suddenly, so grab onto a strap or handrail.
Even if it stops, don't rush out. Follow the staff's instructions.
In a supermarket or convenience store
Stay away from shelves and showcases. They could fall down, or items could fall out of them.
Squat down and protect your head with a shopping basket, bag, or other item.
Don't rush for the exits. Follow the staff's instructions.
Near a cliff (a steep slope)
The slope could collapse. Run as far away as you can.
Near the sea
A tsunami could hit. Run to a higher elevation immediately.
When the Shaking Has Stopped
Confirm safety in your surroundings
When the shaking has stopped, confirm the following.
Gather information about the earthquake
Check for information about the earthquake on TV, the radio, and the internet.
Information from the municipal office, the fire department, and the police is especially important. There could be a call for you to evacuate, which is called hinan.
This website provides the latest disaster information, such as evacuation warnings in Tokyo
| TMG's Disaster Prevention Website |
NHK WORLD TV broadcasts in English 24 hours a day. NHK WORLD RADIO broadcasts in 17 different foreign languages. You can access these from the NHK WORLD website or by using the NHK WORLD phone application.
| NHK WORLD - JAPAN |
Determine whether you need to evacuate (hinan) or not
If the place where you are currently is dangerous, go to the hinanjo (evacuation area).
The hinanjo will be a nearby school or park.
You can search for the hinanjo in different areas of Tokyo on the website below.
| TMG's Disaster Prevention Map |
Evacuate (hinan)
Things to do before evacuating (hinan)
If you've decided to evacuate (hinan), make sure to do the following first.
Things to be careful of outside
After a large earthquake, smaller earthquakes continue to occur. These shakes are called aftershocks (yoshin).
These aftershocks can occur at any time. When you're outside, be careful of objects which could fall or break, and choose the widest available paths.
Also, follow these rules.