Japanese woman dies after car falls 20m in evacuation as tsunami threat recedes

A woman in Japan died while evacuating during a tsunami warning after a massive 8.8 earthquake struck Russia's far east Kamchatka peninsula on Wednesday.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

The 58-year-old was driving when her small car veered and fell about 20m from a national highway in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, on Wednesday.

The police believe she was trying to move to higher ground when she steered in the wrong direction, Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Authorities in Japan issued evacuation advisories to more than two million residents along the eastern seaboard as the powerful earthquake brought back memories of the disastrous 2011 tsunami that hit Japan.

This week’s earthquake triggered a tsunami, with high waves reaching parts of Russia, Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast. About a dozen nations across the Pacific – from China to Chile – issued tsunami warnings and evacuation orders in the aftermath of one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded.

Russia’s Institute of Oceanology said tsunami waves close to 6m high were recorded near populated areas of the peninsula.

About 10 other people suffered injuries, mostly in Hokkaido, while heading to shelter following the tsunami alert, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said yesterday.