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

About 2,000 people took part in the drills held at four locations in Wakayama and Osaka prefectures on Monday. The central and local governments jointly hold the exercises around this time of year.

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

A Japan Coast Guard patrol ship urged people to evacuate to higher ground.

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

SDF personnel simulated a rescue operation for people caught up in a tsunami.

They also worked with police and fire departments to practice pulling people out from under a collapsed building and giving them medical attention.