Most transit authorities agree on one thing: don’t run. Panicked movement, not the shaking itself, is what causes many injuries during an earthquake \u2014 people trip, collide, or get caught in a crowd surge toward the exits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you feel shaking while on a platform:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- \u30fbMove away from the platform edge and the tracks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbGet low near a support pillar or interior wall, and protect your head and neck with your arms or a bag<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbWatch for falling signage, light fixtures, or ceiling tiles<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbDo not rush toward the stairs or exits<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbFollow instructions from station staff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"If](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/35062039_s.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNever jump onto the tracks, even to escape a crowd – the risk from an oncoming train or electrified rail is far greater than staying on the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If You’re on a Train<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trains in many earthquake-prone cities are built to stop automatically once seismic sensors detect strong shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nLos Angeles Metro<\/mark><\/a> and BART<\/mark><\/a> in the San Francisco Bay Area both note that a train underground is often one of the safer places to be during an earthquake, since falling debris and building collapse aren’t a factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Mexico City, the SASMEX early warning network<\/mark><\/a> can alert the metro system to slow or halt trains ahead of the strongest shaking. In Manila, Philippine transit authorities<\/mark><\/a> have said plainly that during an earthquake, it’s the train that should stop first \u2014 not the passengers who should act first.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"Trains](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/34514518_s.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nWhile the train is stopped or moving to the next station:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- \u30fbHold on to a handrail or strap<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbProtect your head with your arms or a bag<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbDo not try to force the doors open yourself<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbStay inside the train until it reaches a platform and staff say it’s safe to exit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbListen for announcements from the operator or conductor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/4599837_s.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nRail lines carry high-voltage current, so walking along the tracks after an earthquake is dangerous even if the train has stopped between stations. Wait for staff to guide an evacuation if one becomes necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earthquake Response Varies by Country \u2014 Know Before You Go<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because this guide is written for an international audience, it’s worth noting that “the right thing to do” during an earthquake looks a little different depending on where you are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nNorth America:<\/strong> The standard public guidance<\/mark><\/a> is “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” \uff0d get down, take cover under something sturdy or against an interior wall, and hold on until the shaking stops. Transit systems like LA Metro<\/a> and BART<\/a> generally ask riders to stay on board or in the station and wait for staff direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latin America:<\/strong> Mexico has one of the world’s longest-running public earthquake early warning systems (SASMEX<\/a>), which can give Mexico City residents and transit operators up to roughly a minute’s notice before strong shaking arrives. Chile, one of the most seismically active countries on earth, relies on a national mobile emergency alert system (SAE<\/mark><\/a>) for tsunami and disaster warnings, alongside widespread public earthquake drills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southeast Asia:<\/strong> In the Philippines, the national volcanology and seismology institute (PHIVOLCS<\/mark><\/a>) promotes “Duck, Cover, and Hold,” and transit operators<\/a> have said trains are designed to stop automatically when shaking is detected. Across the wider region – including Indonesia and Taiwan – earthquake and tsunami drills are increasingly common in schools and workplaces near active fault lines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"Transit](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/59f14a9242d05b0e2a6e67475f193f28-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/39255_s.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you travel or relocate often, it’s worth spending five minutes looking up the transit authority’s own earthquake guidance for that specific city – the broad principles above are consistent, but station layouts, alert systems, and staff procedures differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Personal Preparedness for Commuters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A few small habits make a real difference if you’re ever caught away from home or the office when the ground starts shaking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- \n
- \u2705 Keep a portable phone charger in your bag – a dead phone means no maps, no alerts, and no way to reach anyone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u2705 Wear or carry comfortable walking shoes, especially if your commute involves stairs or a potential long walk home<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u2705 Know at least one alternate way to contact family or coworkers, since phone networks are often congested right after a major earthquake – many regions offer a dedicated emergency messaging service or app for this<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u2705 Agree on a backup meeting point with family in advance, in case calls and texts aren’t going through<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Employer and School Preparedness: Safety and Business Continuity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For companies and schools, an earthquake that hits during the morning or evening commute raises a different set of questions: Are employees or students safe? Can they get home, or should they stay put? Do we have enough water and supplies on hand if people can’t leave for a while?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nThese are core business continuity planning (BCP) questions, and many disaster-prone regions have official guidance on the topic. Tokyo<\/a><\/mark>, for example, asks employers to avoid encouraging a mass simultaneous return home after a major quake, since crowded streets and transit disruption can themselves become dangerous, and instead recommends that offices stock enough water and food to support employees for about three days if needed. The same underlying logic – don’t rush everyone into the streets at once, and have supplies ready in case people are stuck – applies broadly, whether the guidance comes from a city government, a school district, or a corporate safety office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"Tokyo,](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/479f92ccd46c8010d2333cc580257f7a-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nA basic BCP earthquake checklist for any organization with commuting employees might include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- \n
- \u30fbA way to check on everyone’s safety quickly, even if some people are off-site or in transit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbA backup communication channel that doesn’t rely on a single overloaded network<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbEnough emergency supplies on hand to support staff or students who can’t leave right away<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u30fbA clear, communicated policy on when to send people home versus when to ask them to stay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Securing Your Space: Earthquake-Ready Furniture Without the Drilling<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even after you’ve made it home or back to the office, the job isn’t quite done – unsecured furniture and shelving are a leading cause of earthquake injuries, and toppled bookcases or cabinets can block an exit exactly when you need it clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where a lot of renters and office managers get stuck: drilling into a wall isn’t always allowed, or it feels like a hassle you’ll get to “eventually.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nPro\uff17’s anchoring-free system is built around that exact problem. It doesn’t require drilling into walls, floors, or the furniture itself, which makes it a practical option for rented apartments as well as offices that can’t modify the building. It’s also designed to be removed and reinstalled easily if you rearrange a room, move offices, or relocate, and it doesn’t require a contractor or specialized tools to set up. Installation produces no dust, vibration, or noise, so it works even in an occupied office during business hours. The system has been tested to withstand shaking JMA Seinsim Intensity Scale 7<\/a><\/mark>, making it a reasonable option to consider for both homes and workplaces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"Pro\uff17's](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/71f73ec33cf1cba2ef5cb9be15d403ca-1024x683.jpg\")
Safety Strap with Gel Pads for TV<\/a><\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Earthquake Readiness Starts Before You Feel the Shaking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nThe core advice for trains and stations is simple: don’t run, get low and take cover if you’re on a platform, hold on and stay inside if you’re on a train, and follow staff instructions once the shaking stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Layered on top of that, a charged phone, a backup way to reach family, and a workplace or school with a real BCP plan can make the difference between a stressful hour and a genuinely dangerous day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And since you may not be able to get home right away, making sure your home and office furniture is properly secured is one of the most practical steps you can take now, while things are calm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"If](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6a38dd9db939c852cb130b850515932f-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nStart Securing Your Space Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If unsecured furniture at home or in your office is on your list of “should probably deal with that eventually,” now is a good time to take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pro-7.co.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/05e3cb6109eaf5f8d9d7fb70e8b68617-756x1024.jpg\")