Evacuation Stairs Built In Town In Northern Japan
Residents of a town in northern Japan, which was hit hard by 2011 earthquakes and tsunami, have tried out new evacuation stairs that could save lives.
When the massive tsunami hit nearly 10 years ago, some residents of the affected areas climbed up the slope of a highway to safety.
The land and infrastructure ministry has since been building stairs along the slopes as part of evacuation routes.
The town of Otsuchi in Iwate Prefecture was devastated and many people lost their lives in the disaster.
Local residents were invited on Saturday to try out the stairway which was built in the town.
One participant welcomed the new escape route saying it is helpful since every second counts when a tsunami hits.
The town official in charge of disaster management Tanaka Kyoetsu said it is not the end of the effort. He said that the stairs will be marked on a disaster map and be used for evacuation drills and training.