Officials in western Japan held large-scale disaster drills ahead of UN-designated World Tsunami Awareness Day on November 5.

About 2,000 people participated in the drills held at four locations in Wakayama and Osaka prefectures on Monday. Central and local authorities jointly conduct the exercises at this time of the year.

A drill at a port in the city of Wakayama was based on the scenario of a mega earthquake occurring along the Nankai Trough in the Pacific Ocean, where a major tsunami warning is issued along the Pacific coast.

A Japanese Coast Guard patrol vessel urged people to evacuate to higher ground.

Organizers set up a mock shelter and Self Defense Force personnel prepared meals for the evacuees.

SDF personnel simulated a rescue operation for people trapped in a tsunami.

They also worked with police and fire departments to practice getting people out from under a collapsed building and providing medical aid.