Source:
https://scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2014519/tokyo-holds-quake-preparedness-drill-foreign-tourists
Asia/ East Asia

Tokyo holds quake preparedness drill for foreign tourists

A fire worker in a crane rescues a man role-playing as a person who is isolated atop of a building in an earlier drill simulating a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Tokyo, on August 26. Photo: Reuters

The Tokyo metropolitan government held a disaster drill on Sunday to test its ability to evacuate foreign tourists safely in the event that a powerful earthquake hits the Japanese capital.

Under the scenario that a magnitude 7.3 quake shook Tokyo at around 8 a.m., staff working at the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida Ward escorted some 120 people playing foreign tourists from the observatory deck to safety outside the 634-metre tower.

People with helmets take part in an earlier drill simulating a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Tokyo on August 26. Photo: Reuters
People with helmets take part in an earlier drill simulating a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Tokyo on August 26. Photo: Reuters

When the role-playing tourists arrived at an open space near the tower, staff inquired to their wellbeing through a megaphone equipped with a translating function.

With police and firefighters also taking part, the metropolitan government is stepping up measures to better serve a growing number of foreign visitors to Tokyo ahead of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe performs first aid on a training model as he participates in an earlier annual disaster drill in Saitama on September 1. Photo: AFP
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe performs first aid on a training model as he participates in an earlier annual disaster drill in Saitama on September 1. Photo: AFP

Observing the disaster drill, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told participants: “We have to take safety measures as we will host people from around the world. Let’s build a safe Tokyo city together, with Tokyoites, business operators and local government working as one.”