The Russians didn’t run. Just say’in....
In 1986, Soviets who disobeyed orders were shot.
Big difference.
I was thinking the same thing.
There have been multiple trends in these events which don;t marry up with my read on the character of those in charge in the area.
Then again, after an 9.0 quake and numerous 6.0+ aftershocks, and who knows how little sleep, and little to no reinforcements, maybe they are just burned out with little hope of survival if they stay on and not much worse conditions if they leave.
Who is looking after the public safety of the Japanese people? Or are they too tied up in centralized command and control to be able to decentralize the response.