A disaster drill for the anticipated major earthquake in central to western Japan was held Saturday with about 4,200 people taking part at numerous locations.

Self-Defense Forces planes and helicopters were used to simulate transporting injured people from airports in the region to cities in less affected areas, including Tokyo and Sendai.

The exercise, held a day before the annual nationwide drill, was based on a scenario in which a powerful quake in the Nankai Trough off central and western Japan caused extensive damage in Aichi, Mie and Wakayama prefectures.