Japanese participate in missiles evacuation drill

Record ID: 878191

  • Title: Japanese participate in missiles evacuation drill
  • Date: 4th June 2017
  • Summary: ABU, JAPAN (JUNE 4, 2017) (REUTERS) ABU TOWN SIREN ABU TOWN COAST AND SEA OF JAPAN ABU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SIGN READING (Japanese): "ABU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL" ABU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIELD VARIOUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN PICKING OUT WEED SIREN GOING OFF WHILE SCHOOL CHILDREN PICK OUT WEED SIREN GOING OFF VARIOUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS RUNNING PARENTS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WALKING INTO THE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM SCHOOL CHILDREN STANDING INSIDE GYMNASIUM VARIOUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN SITTING VARIOUS OF A LITTLE BOY LISTENING TO THE EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DRILL PARTICIPANT, KANAKO ONO, SAYING: "It was a bit hard to hear the announcement so that made it feel a bit unrealistic, but the news (about North Korea and their missile test) are in newspapers and on TV, so it's also something close to our daily lives so it was a good way to understand how to evacuate, but again it didn't feel very realistic." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DRILL PARTICIPANT, NORITSUGU IMACHI, SAYING: "The evacuation drill was about not knowing when a missile may land, and I'd like to take advantage of this drill by remembering it well." SCHOOL CHILDREN DURING DRILL (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DRILL PARTICIPANT, TAISON ITO, SAYING: "It (the siren) rang all of a sudden while we were picking grass, so that scared me." VARIOUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN DURING DRILL
  • Embargoed: 18th June 2017 03:51
  • Keywords: elementary school children Japanese residents North Korea missile test Japan holds missile evacuation drill
  • Location: ABU, JAPAN
  • City: ABU, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016JV396T
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A town in western Japan held an evacuation drill Sunday (June 4) involving a simulated North Korean missile attack as more towns and cities take steps to brace for what they hope will never happen.
    North Korea has been increasing the number of its missile test launches in recent months, launching 12 so far this year and three last month, with many splashing into the Sea of Japan, some inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, which extends up to 200 miles from shore.
    Tokyo has repeatedly condemned the test launches, which are in violation of U.N. resolutions. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government earlier this year instructed municipalities to hold evacuation drills, heightening a sense of urgency among the public.
    Sunday's drill was held in the fishing and farming town of Abu, population 3,500, in Yamaguchi prefecture some 760 km (475 miles) west of Tokyo. It follows Japan's first such exercise held in northeastern Akita prefecture in March.
    Over 100 elementary school children and their parents attended the drill held at the Abu Elementary school. Both the children and parents were cleaning the school field by pulling out weed when the alarm went off, prompting them to run towards the school gymnasium.
    School officials told the children they were able to evacuate into the gymnasium in around three minutes. It is estimated that it would take 10 minutes for a North Korean missile to reach Japan.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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