Dramatic Escape: Austrian Family Flees the Beach During Tsunami Warning in Japan
A vacation for an Austrian family in Japan turned into a frightening experience due to a tsunami warning that led to a sudden evacuation. Johannes Schwamberger from Tyrol, who is on vacation with his wife and children on the Japanese island of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture, received a tsunami warning on his phone on Wednesday morning, prompting authorities to evacuate the beach.
This was the first sunny day during their trip, so the family decided to spend it at the beach. As soon as they arrived, Schvamberg, who is 50 years old, received a message on his phone. Although the warning was in Japanese, they used a translator to understand its content, which explained that there was a tsunami warning and that they should head to higher ground.
The locals remained calm on the beach, and most of them did not show any immediate reaction. Schfamberger explained that despite the initial concern, things seemed to be under complete and professional control. Just a few days ago, there was a hurricane warning on the island, which was handled with similar efficiency.
According to local residents, the warnings that come via phone are just the first step in such cases. Things become more serious when announcements start broadcasting through the loudspeakers that are spread everywhere. About 20 minutes after the first warning, the loudspeakers began broadcasting warnings in Japanese and English, as well as in Chinese due to the presence of many Chinese tourists. At the same time, beach staff began alerting visitors and asked them to leave. Shortly after, the police arrived and evacuated the beach and closed it.
The family returned to the hotel located six to seven meters above sea level. Schvamberger explained that they felt well-informed and updated the whole time. In the end, the island suffered no damage.
As for the children's reaction, Schfamberger said with a laugh: "They were disappointed because they didn't see a tsunami." But he emphasized that the power of nature should not be underestimated. He added: "The residents here have harsh experiences with disasters, so they take these matters very seriously."