Japan: 500,000 take part in quake drills

More than half a million people took part in annual drills across Japan yesterday to prepare for disasters.

There was a greater sense of urgency this year, as it was the first drill since the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in March which killed 20,000.

The drills were based on a 7.3 magnitude earthquake striking Tokyo. More than 1,000 took part in exercises in Yoyogi Park, central Tokyo, while children practised getting under desks and donning fireproof hoods.