Press Conference by Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru Regarding the Tsunami Caused by the Earthquake near Kamchatka Peninsula

[Opening Statement by Prime Minister Ishiba]

At approximately 8:25 a.m. today, an earthquake of a magnitude of 8.7 occurred near the Kamchatka Peninsula. This triggered a tsunami warning for Japan’s Pacific coastal regions from Hokkaido Prefecture to Wakayama Prefecture, with tsunami waves expected to reach up to 3 meters.

Immediately following the earthquake, the Government responded by establishing an Information Contact Office within the Cabinet Crisis Management Center at 8:37 a.m. Upon the issuance of the tsunami warning, this office was reorganized into the Emergency Contact Office at 9:40 a.m. to assess the status of damage.

At 9:43 a.m., I (the Prime Minister) issued three instructions: First, to provide timely and accurate information to the public regarding the tsunami and evacuations, while ensuring thorough measures to prevent damage, including resident evacuations; Second, to promptly assess the damage status; and third, to ensure the entire Government works to prevent damage in close collaboration with local governments, under the principle of “human life first.” As of now, I have been informed that efforts to assess the human and property damage are underway. The Government remains fully committed to taking all necessary measures to respond to this situation.

Residents in the areas under the warning are instructed to immediately evacuate to higher ground or designated safe buildings. Even if the first tsunami wave has reached the coast, subsequent second and third tsunami waves can be larger. Therefore, they are required to pay close attention to tsunami information without leaving safe areas until the warning is officially lifted. That’s all from me.