Disaster drills held across Japan to prepare for scenario of a massive earthquake

Children play the roles of tourists and receive relief goods such as emergency food during a drill at a parking area in Tenryuji temple in Kyoto, on Saturday. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Large-scale disaster drills were held across Japan on Saturday, as Sept. 1 is designated Disaster Prevention Day in the nation.

In a central government drill based on the scenario of a massive earthquake originating in the Nankai Trough off the Pacific coast, officials including Cabinet members gathered at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, arriving on foot.

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Kanagawa prefectural police also held an exercise in preparation for an earthquake directly beneath Tokyo. Part of National Highway Route 246, which connects Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture, was closed from a little past 9 a.m. for up to about 45 minutes.

An aerial photo taken by a Yomiuri Shimbun helicopter shows a bridge between Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, and Kawasaki on National Highway Route 246, which was closed during a drill on Saturday. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

On the premise that an accident involving a large bus happened on a bridge on the closed route, the flow of ordinary cars was regulated and a special lane for emergency vehicles was established. People including the passengers were evacuated and the bus was towed away by a tow truck.

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