Japan’s government has compiled a plan to evacuate people from remote islands in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa in the event of emergencies.
The plan, the first of its kind, was released on Thursday. It would be used in cases such as a contingency involving Taiwan.
People from the five municipalities covering the Sakishima Islands would be evacuated under the plan.
The plan calls for evacuating around 120,000 residents and tourists to 32 municipalities in Kyushu, and to neighboring Yamaguchi Prefecture in about six days.
The destinations would include Fukuoka and Kagoshima airports.
Vessels of the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard, as well as private-sector ferries and aircraft would be used to transport 20,000 people per day from the islands.
From there, chartered buses and other methods of transport would be used to take evacuees to hotels and Japanese-style inns in 32 municipalities in Kyushu’s seven prefectures and Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The government plan calls for all residents from one local district to be evacuated to the same municipality, so they can maintain their local community.
For example, residents of districts in Yonaguni Town would be evacuated to Saga City or Tosu City. Residents of Taketomi Town’s Hateruma Island would be accommodated in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
The government plans to further study support measures for elderly residents and hospitalized patients and what to do if evacuations become prolonged. The government also hopes to compile basic guidelines in fiscal 2026.
AloJapan.com