Tsunami Warning for Japan After Quake Off Kamchatka; Urgent 'Evacuate' Calls Trend on Social Media X

Following an earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, a tsunami warning has been issued for Japan, leading to a surge of urgent calls to "Please evacuate" on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which have become a trending topic.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the tsunami warning covers the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Wakayama Prefecture, with a maximum predicted tsunami height of 3 meters. NHK's 'Life and Disaster Prevention' account repeatedly urged, "A tsunami is coming. Please evacuate quickly. Please evacuate quickly to protect your life."

Many users posted messages to their followers and the public, such as "Absolutely live," "Nothing is more important than your life," and "Don't be complacent; evacuate if you think it's dangerous." They encouraged specific actions like "Please evacuate to higher ground" and "Stay away from the sea and rivers." Some emphasized the danger of tsunamis, saying, "Don't think it's just 3 meters" and "Even 30cm can sweep people away." Posts also referenced lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake, urging caution with messages like "Tsunamis arrive with a time lag" and "There might be second or third waves."

Attention also focused on TV reporting. While praising announcers for strongly urging, "Evacuate immediately!", some opinions were seen suggesting that regarding expert opinions, it would be better to simply say, "Please evacuate, you'll be lucky if it doesn't come. Just evacuate," prioritizing evacuation above all else.

Heartfelt pleas also emerged, such as "Don't bother looking at posts from people saying easygoing things like this right now, just evacuate," urging priority for evacuation actions over information gathering. A strong sense of tsunami vigilance has spread nationwide.

The Context

Japan is an island nation highly susceptible to earthquakes and tsunamis due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The country has a robust disaster preparedness system, but the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, which caused widespread destruction and over 15,000 deaths, deeply ingrained the importance of immediate and decisive evacuation during tsunami warnings. Public broadcasters like NHK play a crucial role in disseminating urgent disaster information, often interrupting regular programming. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have also become vital for real-time information sharing and community support during emergencies, though they can also be prone to misinformation. Given the trauma of past events, any tsunami warning, even from distant earthquakes, is taken with extreme seriousness in Japan, and authorities prioritize evacuation above all else.