Located on the intricate ria coast of the Oshika Peninsula, Tohoku Electric Power's Onagawa nuclear power plant — which was restarted on Tuesday — sits amid a maze of narrow, winding mountain roads and remote islands with few transportation options.
When the Great East Japan Earthquake struck in 2011, several sections of evacuation routes along prefectural roads were closed. Residents now fear about their ability to escape if another disaster hits.
According to Miyagi Prefecture's road management division, two main coastal prefectural roads along the peninsula were partially closed after the earthquake due to road surface collapses, while another inland road saw nine landslides that cut off isolated communities for around 10 days.
Since then, the prefecture has realigned some roads to higher ground and taken measures to prevent landslides.
However, new tsunami risk assessments released in 2022 indicate that the largest anticipated earthquake could submerge 14 sections along two main roads.
“In such a case, evacuation is the only solution. Raising awareness about flood-prone areas is essential,” a prefectural official said.
In Yoriisohama, a district in the city of Ishinomaki around 2 kilometers southeast of the nuclear plant, there is only one narrow city road available in the case of an evacuation. If the area becomes completely isolated, helicopters or boats are potential options, but typically, residents would have to move inland via routes near the plant.
Yukitoshi Watanabe, 84, a local resident, expressed concerns, saying, “The roads still aren’t developed enough. Restarting the plant is premature.”
Another resident, Yoshimi Watanabe, 79, shared their worries, saying, “There’s no way to escape.” Watanabe urges the authorities to widen the roads.
Around 400 residents live on five islands near the Oshika Peninsula, including Ajishima, which belongs to the city of Ishinomaki. Evacuation plans set by Ishinomaki and the town of Onagawa involve moving residents by boat, then transporting them inland by buses arranged by local governments. Helicopters may also be used depending on weather conditions.
Izushima, which is administered by the town of Onagawa and the only island within the 5-km designated primary evacuation zone of the nuclear plant, currently relies on a ferry that operates three times a day for transportation. However, a new bridge linking the island to the peninsula is scheduled to open in December.
Local district head Kikuo Suda, 75, said he is hopeful.
“Boats can’t operate in high waves, and traveling (on them) at night is dangerous,” he said. “With the bridge, evacuation will be easier.”
Immediately after the March 2011 earthquake struck, Suda had attempted to reach the mainland by boat only to find the sea littered with tsunami debris, making navigation impossible.
While he supports the plant’s restart for the sake of stable power supply, he added, “I just hope no accidents happen.”
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