Coronavirus fears fuel panic buying of toilet paper in Japan

Rumours of shortages circulate on social media causing long lines and surging prices

Last updated:
Christian Borbon (Senior Web Editor)
2 MIN READ
1/15
People wearing protective masks queue to purchase toilet papes and tissues at a drug store in Tokyo.
Reuters
2/15
A woman walks past shelves where toilet paper was stocked and now sold out, at a shop in Tokyo.
AFP
3/15
Shortage rumors on social media have sparked toilet paper panic buying in Japan.
Facebook
4/15
Coronavirus fears are causing drugstores and supermarkets to run short of toilet paper and other items.
AFP
5/15
A woman walks past an out of stock of toilet paper in a shop.
AFP
6/15
A man walks past an out of stock of toilet paper in a shop in Tokyo.
AFP
7/15
Shelves of out of stock toilet paper and tissues are pictured in front of a drugstore.
Reuters
8/15
A woman wearing a facemask walks past empty supermarket shelves in Tokyo.
AFP
9/15
People buy toilet papers and tissues at a drug store in Tokyo.
Reuters
10/15
A general view show an out of stock of toilet paper in a shop.
AFP
11/15
People wearing protective masks queue to purchase toilet papers and tissues at a drug store in Tokyo.
Reuters
12/15
People wearing protective masks buy toilet papes and tissues at a drug store in Tokyo.
Reuters
13/15
Empty supermarket shelves as rumours of shortages cirulate on social media.
Twitter
14/15
A man shops in an empty supermarket shelves usually stocked with toilet papers in Tokyo.
AFP
15/15
A woman wearing a facemask walks past empty supermarket shelves, usually stocked with daily necessities, in Tokyo.
AFP
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