Watch: Japanese Man Evacuates With Cat and Bird After Tsunami Alert
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When a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, tsunami warnings rippled across coastal regions-including Japan, Hawaii, and the US West Coast. For one Japanese man living just minutes from the sea, the terrifying tremor turned an ordinary morning into a race against time.
Travel photographer and content creator Yuu, who lives only a 10-minute walk from the shoreline, shared his first-ever tsunami evacuation experience in a video posted on Instagram. The post, both gripping and heartfelt, struck a chord with thousands.
As the warning hit, Yuu was in the middle of making breakfast. He swiftly abandoned his routine, calmly placing his cat into a backpack and securing his pet bird in its carrier. Camera gear packed in seconds, he dashed out the door.
“Since I live close to the ocean, I always have to be mindful of tsunamis after an earthquake,” Yuu wrote in his caption. “Through this tsunami warning experience, I realised I need to be much more prepared for disasters.”
His destination: a local middle school designated as the community evacuation point. But there, a new challenge emerged-pets weren’t allowed inside. While other evacuees sat in air-conditioned classrooms, Yuu and fellow pet owners were left waiting outside.
The video sparked a wave of support online. “I'm glad you are safe, that's so scary!” commented user Margaret Clayton. Another user, Vicki Dwyer, voiced concern: “How dreadful that the city does not have a safe place for people with animals.”
Many praised Yuu’s calm and compassion, especially his commitment to getting his pets to safety. His experience has sparked a conversation about disaster preparedness-and the need for more inclusive evacuation policies that don't leave animals and their owners out in the cold.
Travel photographer and content creator Yuu, who lives only a 10-minute walk from the shoreline, shared his first-ever tsunami evacuation experience in a video posted on Instagram. The post, both gripping and heartfelt, struck a chord with thousands.
As the warning hit, Yuu was in the middle of making breakfast. He swiftly abandoned his routine, calmly placing his cat into a backpack and securing his pet bird in its carrier. Camera gear packed in seconds, he dashed out the door.
“Since I live close to the ocean, I always have to be mindful of tsunamis after an earthquake,” Yuu wrote in his caption. “Through this tsunami warning experience, I realised I need to be much more prepared for disasters.”
His destination: a local middle school designated as the community evacuation point. But there, a new challenge emerged-pets weren’t allowed inside. While other evacuees sat in air-conditioned classrooms, Yuu and fellow pet owners were left waiting outside.
The video sparked a wave of support online. “I'm glad you are safe, that's so scary!” commented user Margaret Clayton. Another user, Vicki Dwyer, voiced concern: “How dreadful that the city does not have a safe place for people with animals.”
Many praised Yuu’s calm and compassion, especially his commitment to getting his pets to safety. His experience has sparked a conversation about disaster preparedness-and the need for more inclusive evacuation policies that don't leave animals and their owners out in the cold.
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