SUZU, Ishikawa Prefecture--The Ukai district of Suzu city in Ishikawa Prefecture faces Toyama Bay, where the waves are usually calm.

But on Jan. 1, over the course of mere minutes, an earthquake struck under these waters off the Noto Peninsula, churning a tsunami more than 4 meters high that sped toward shore.

The prefectural government said two people were confirmed killed by the waves as of Feb. 8.

The low death toll has been attributed partly to community preparations honed in disaster drills.

The tsunami, the first wave of which hit shore less than a minute after the earthquake, shows once again that every second counts when fleeing to safety in a disaster.

‘JUST RUN’

On New Year’s Day, Tetsuji Hamaichi, a 54-year-old fisherman, was relaxing at his home near the coast in the Ukai district with his wife, Masako, 54, their two high-school-age sons, and his mother and older brother.

The six people were discussing what to eat for dinner when a strong tremor hit the area. Four minutes later, as the family was trying to leave the house, an even more violent quake hit.

Fearing the house could collapse, they fled to a sandy beach that stretched east of the home. Neighbors had also gathered there.

Someone cried, “A tsunami’s coming,” and they all headed inland.

Tetsuji, however, said, “I’m going to shut off the breaker.”

He told Masako and the others to “hurry up and go” as they tried to climb over the roof of a house that had collapsed and blocked the alley.

Tetsuji’s brother was with his mother at the back of the fleeing group of neighbors. As they looked back to see if anyone had been left behind, they saw the tsunami approaching about 80 meters away. The debris from the quake seemed to have slowed down the waves.

That was around 10 minutes after the first quake struck.

When the group reached a national highway about 200 meters from the beach, the brother received a call from Tetsuji.

“What are you going to do about the car on the beach?” Tetsuji asked.

“Forget about it. Just run!” the brother said.

After this exchange, the call was disconnected. A larger wave had hit.

Tetsuji’s body was found several days later in rubble only 10 meters from his home.

Masako lamented, “I wish he had run away with us and not worried about the house.”

FEELING OF REGRET

Toshio Ichimachi, 75, is qualified as a disaster prevention specialist and serves as an officer of the Ukai district’s voluntary disaster prevention organization.

He lives with his wife and parents near the home of the Hamaichis.

After the two strong quakes, Ichimachi began preparing to evacuate. He heard the disaster prevention administrative radio announcing the tsunami warning, but it took about five minutes for him to pick up belongings and change into long boots.

Ichimachi’s father-in-law, Shuji, 89, suffered a stroke last year and was unable to walk. Ichimachi went out to look for a safe alley where he could take Shuji out of harm’s way.

In his search, Ichimachi came across Tetsuji Hamaichi sitting on a collapsed roof. He saw that something was stuck in Tetsuji’s leg.

Tetsuji said, “I can’t move, but I’ll be fine here.” Before he left, Ichimachi said, “Hang in there.”

The first two waves of the tsunami had already reached Ichimachi’s feet and receded.

He noticed on his left that the Ukai river was overflowing. He didn’t see the third tsunami wave that swept over him and knocked him against driftwood and debris.

Ichimachi held onto the fence of a home, and just as he thought he was going to die, the tsunami slowly receded.

He looked around, but there was no sign of Shuji.

Two days later, the body of the father-in-law was found in an alley about 500 meters from his home.

“I was in no condition to go back to look for him, but I can’t shake the feeling of regret that I should have gone back,” Ichimachi said.

The Suzu city government created a hazard map in 2018 based on tsunami inundation assumptions reviewed by the Ishikawa prefectural government after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

The Jan. 1 tsunami was expected to reach the Ukai district four to 24 minutes after the earthquake. Its maximum height was forecast at 5.3 meters.

The district had held an annual tsunami evacuation drill, but the participation rate of residents was not high.

Ichimachi said, “I knew in my head that a tsunami was coming, but it didn’t feel real.”

TO HIGH GROUND ON CRUTCHES

The Jike district of Suzu is located at the tip of the peninsula near the epicenter of the earthquake.

In the Shimode community in the district, home to 80 people, a row of houses along the coastline collapsed. Inundated light trucks and debris from the disaster remained there as of late January.

Toshitaka Okuhama, 68, was at his home by the sea when the quake struck at 4:06 p.m. on Jan. 1.

He and his wife, Sachiko, 57, rushed out of the house.

At 4:12 p.m., the disaster prevention administration radio announced that a tsunami warning was in effect.

“We must get to higher ground immediately,” Okuhama said.

A meeting place on a hill behind the house was designated as an evacuation site. Sachiko had to walk slowly due to the aftereffects of her stroke.

Okuhama considered taking a car, but scattered roof tiles on the streets blocked the way.

After the 2011 disaster in the Tohoku region, the Suzu city government, at the request of local residents, had built a narrow, steep mountain path for tsunami evacuation.

The couple headed up this route to reach the meeting place. Sachiko used crutches and a handrail for support as she climbed the 100 or so steps, one at a time.

More than 100 people, including residents and those who had returned home for the New Year’s holidays, fled to the meeting place.

Soon, somebody shouted, “Here it comes.”

From the top of the hill, they could hear houses collapsing as the tsunami swept over the shore.

The Shimode community has conducted annual tsunami evacuation drills since the 2011 disaster. The drill is based on the assumption that a tsunami, with a maximum height of 13.5 meters, will hit the area in less than a minute after a quake.

Residents share a slogan, “If anything happens, go to the meeting place.”

The tsunami caused no fatalities in the community.

Okuhama’s house was flooded up to his knees.

“I wonder what would have happened if we had not escaped,” Okuhama said. “I did not panic, and I was able to move immediately, thanks to the evacuation drill.”

Masahiro Demura, 76, warden of the community, said the 2011 disaster taught him about the horrors of tsunami.

“But I never thought this area would be damaged by a tsunami,” he said. “I am glad we continued the drill.”

(This article was written by Akina Nishi, Ayami Ko and Ryuichiro Fukuoka.)