In Japan, authorities warned of possible waves as high as three metres (9.8 feet) and upgraded alerts for wide swathes of the eastern coastline. As of midday on Wednesday, more than 220 municipalities were under evacuation advisories, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said, with almost 2 million people urged to move to higher ground.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a 60cm (24-inch) wave had reached parts of the Pacific coast from Hokkaido down to Tokyo Bay. Officials warned that larger waves could still follow and urged immediate evacuation, saying: “If you wait until you see the tsunami, it will be too late.”
Tsunami alarms sounded in coastal towns and public broadcaster NHK showed residents in Hokkaido sheltering under tents on rooftops, while fishing boats left ports to ride out the waves offshore, according to Reuters.
It prompted manufacturers and retailers to temporarily close their plants and stores along Japan’s Pacific coast, Kyodo reported.
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Nissan said it had halted production at three plants in Kanagawa and Fukushima prefectures, ordering employees at its Yokohama headquarters to move to the fifth floor or higher, while drinks maker Kirin Holdings halted operations at two breweries and a winery in Kanagawa and Miyagi prefectures. Sapporo Holdings also shut a brewery in Shizuoka prefecture.
