Japan Issues Tsunami Advisory, Evacuation Orders for 181,500 People

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, June 8, Combined Foreign Reports) The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory at 9:05 a.m. (8:05 a.m. Taipei time) on June 8 for 10 regions from Ibaraki Prefecture to Okinawa Prefecture, and 181,500 people have received evacuation orders. Entertainment facilities and transportation in many areas have been affected.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, following an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.2 near the Philippines on the morning of June 8, the Meteorological Agency immediately issued a tsunami advisory for the Pacific coast from Ibaraki Prefecture to Okinawa Prefecture, the Izu Islands, and the Ogasawara Islands. It predicted that these areas could face tsunamis of up to 1 meter after noon on June 8.

According to TBS Television, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported that as of 10:00 a.m. on June 8, evacuation orders had been issued in 71 municipalities across 10 prefectures—Ibaraki, Chiba, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Wakayama, Kochi, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa—affecting a total of 181,500 people.

According to the Okinawa Times, the Okinawa Meteorological Observatory held a press conference on the morning of June 8, stating that if the tsunami arrival time coincides with high tide, "the tide level could be higher than current levels," and urged caution for second and third waves of the tsunami.

According to the Okinawa Passenger Ship Association, due to the tsunami advisory, ferries connecting the main island of Okinawa to outlying islands have been canceled or temporarily suspended.

According to the Japanese media outlet Sponichi Annex, entertainment facilities in areas under the tsunami advisory have successively suspended operations.

The Awashima MARINE PARK aquarium in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, announced a temporary closure on its official website. The tourist information center in front of Shizuoka's Shimizu Station also decided to close for the day. The Aqua World Oarai Aquarium in the Oarai area of Ibaraki Prefecture announced the closure of its outdoor areas until the tsunami advisory is lifted.

Operations at the Toba Aquarium in the Toba area of Mie Prefecture and the "Tomisaki-kan" campsite in the Tateyama area of Chiba Prefecture have also been affected.

Furthermore, transportation has been impacted. Oshima Bus, which operates public and sightseeing buses on Izu Oshima Island near Tokyo, stated that it has "temporarily suspended the use of bus stops near the coast" and urged passengers to board from alternative locations. (Editor: Yang Weijing) 1150608