In recent days, the earth’s restless energy has once again made itself felt across the Pacific Rim, as a series of earthquakes and warnings have put communities in Japan and Indonesia on alert and tested the preparedness of local authorities. From the trembling ground beneath Simeulue Island in Indonesia to the cautious planning along Japan’s vulnerable coastline, these seismic events are a stark reminder of the region’s ongoing struggle to anticipate and adapt to natural disasters.
On November 27, 2025, at precisely 11:56 am local time, residents of Simeulue Island, situated off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia, experienced a forceful jolt as a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck at a depth of 25 kilometers. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor sent people rushing outside, seeking safety away from shaking buildings. "I was sitting down at a coffee shop, suddenly the table was shaking. Many people rushed outside of buildings and houses," a local named Ahmadi told AFP. He described the earthquake as "quite long," estimating it lasted around seven seconds, and noted that several aftershocks followed, though these were shorter and less intense.
Despite the frightening experience, there was a collective sigh of relief when the Indian Ocean tsunami warning center confirmed that there was no threat of a tsunami. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded the quake at a slightly lower magnitude of 6.3 and a shallower depth of 10 kilometers, but likewise assured that there was no potential for a tsunami. This was welcome news for a country all too familiar with seismic disasters. Indonesia, after all, sits atop the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a volatile arc where tectonic plates collide, producing frequent and sometimes catastrophic earthquakes. The memory of the 2021 Sulawesi quake, which killed more than 100 people, and the devastating 2018 Palu quake and tsunami, which claimed over 2,200 lives, remains fresh for many Indonesians.
Meanwhile, Japan, another nation perched on this tumultuous ring, has been grappling with its own seismic anxieties. In the early hours of December 1, 2025, at 2:25 am local time, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck 52 kilometers southeast of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 57.5 kilometers, was likely felt as a light vibration by many residents in the region, including those in Ishinomaki, Shiogama, Tagajo-shi, and the larger city of Sendai. According to EarthquakeMonitor, there were no immediate reports of significant damage, but the event served as yet another reminder of the ever-present risk posed by the region’s geological instability.
Yet, perhaps the most pressing concern for Japanese authorities is not the earthquakes themselves, but the looming threat of a megaquake along the Nankai Trough in the Pacific Ocean—a scenario that could trigger devastating tsunamis and widespread destruction across coastal communities. The lessons of recent disasters have not gone unheeded. After the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year’s Day 2024, a large-scale fire swept through a market area in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, even as a tsunami warning was in effect. Fire trucks were deployed to draw seawater from areas projected to be hit by incoming waves, highlighting the perilous balancing act faced by emergency responders.
In response, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications took decisive action. In December 2024, the agency issued a notice instructing fire departments nationwide to establish operational plans that account for tsunami flooding forecasts and the challenges of long-distance water supply. The agency’s strategy prioritizes the deployment of emergency fire response teams in ten prefectures most at risk: Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Wakayama, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Oita, and Miyazaki.
But how prepared are these communities, really? An Asahi Shimbun survey conducted in November 2025 provides a sobering answer. Of the 96 fire departments in the designated coastal areas, only one-quarter—just 24 departments—had completed operational plans that take inundation forecasts into account. Fifty departments reported they were still in the process of drafting such plans, while 22 had not yet begun. The reasons for this lag are as practical as they are troubling: eight cited incomplete preliminary surveys, seven pointed to an inability to secure enough personnel, and six admitted a lack of knowledge or expertise. Many departments checked more than one box, underscoring the complexity of the task.
Despite these challenges, there are glimmers of progress. Among the 24 departments that had finished their plans, 23 included specific safety measures for personnel. Twenty-one set operational timeframes based on estimated tsunami arrival times, 19 outlined procedures for selecting and confirming withdrawal routes, and 18 designated areas where operations could continue during a tsunami warning. Even among those without formal operational plans, 29 departments had established safety measures for personnel in other documents, such as safety management manuals.
Experts say these efforts are commendable, especially given the limited staff and resources available to many local fire departments. Ai Sekizawa, president of the Japan Association of Fire Protection Engineers and an authority on firefighting during earthquakes and tsunamis, praised the departments that have managed to create operational plans while juggling their daily responsibilities. "Many municipalities that are expected to suffer significant damage from a Nankai Trough earthquake are small, and their fire departments have limited staff and expertise," Sekizawa told The Asahi Shimbun. "The central government needs to listen to each department’s situation, provide advice and support them in drawing up plans."
These words ring especially true as communities across the Pacific continue to face the unpredictable whims of nature. While Indonesia’s recent quake passed without major incident, and Japan’s Ishinomaki tremor caused little more than a scare, the region’s history is a testament to the need for constant vigilance and preparedness. The challenge is not simply to react to the next earthquake or tsunami, but to anticipate it—to build systems, train personnel, and plan for contingencies in the hope that when disaster does strike, the damage can be minimized and lives can be saved.
As scientists refine their seismic forecasts and local governments wrestle with the realities of limited resources, the events of the past week serve as a timely reminder: preparedness is not a luxury, but a necessity, in a world where the ground beneath our feet can shift at any moment.
