PICTURES, VIDEO

More than one million Japanese take part in disaster drill

 A survivor (centre) is rescued by police officers during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disast
 A survivor (centre) is rescued by police officers during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police officers attempt to open the door of a buried car during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Firefighters spray water to put out flames during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A rescue dog searches for victims during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: AFP
A survivor (centre) is carried into an amburance during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: AFP
Rescue workers rappel from a fire department helicopter during a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: AFP
A young boy sprays water onto a flag, which is on fire, during an annual anti-disaster drill based on scenarios of a major earthquake hitting Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Firefighters spray water onto mock buildings that are on fire during an annual anti-disaster drill based on scenarios of a major earthquake hitting Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A rescue worker directs mock evacuees away from a building, which has smoke rising from it, during an annual anti-disaster drill based on scenarios of a major earthquake hitting Chiba, east of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (front centre) watches a joint disaster prevention drill in Chiba on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. More than one million Japanese took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011. -- PHOTO: AFP
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) gestures as other participants take shelter under a table inside a shaking earthquake simulator during an annual anti-disaster drill based on scenarios of a major earthquake hitting Chiba, west of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) and other participants take shelter under a table inside a shaking earthquake simulator during an annual anti-disaster drill based on scenarios of a major earthquake hitting Chiba, west of Tokyo on Sunday, Sept 1, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (AFP) - More than one million Japanese, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in a national disaster drill on Sunday as the country assessed its emergency readiness in the wake of a massive quake and tsunami in 2011.

Timed to commemorate the anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 which killed more than 100,000 people, the national Disaster Prevention Day has been held every year since 1960.

This year's drill saw the government simulate its response to a powerful earthquake in central to western Japan, a major natural disaster that researchers say may occur within 30 years or so.

The government estimates that a magnitude-9.1 temblor would kill over 320,000 people in the worst-case scenario.

Mr Abe and all of his ministers gathered at the premier's residence and held a mock disaster response meeting, before inspecting a drill site near Tokyo.

A total of 1.33 million people are expected to participate in exercises during the day, Kyodo News agency said.

In central Shizuoka Prefecture, people participated in a drill based on a scenario that Mount Fuji, an active volcano, erupts following a massive quake, Jiji Press said.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude quake struck seismically-active Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that left over 18,000 dead or missing and sending reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant into meltdown.

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