Imminent Risk of a Mega-Earthquake in Japan? - GlobalWide News
Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Imminent Risk of a Mega-Earthquake in Japan?

August 8, 2024
1 min read
Center of Tokyo: Millions of people would be in danger in the event of a mega earthquake Photo: Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images

The southwest region of Japan has experienced another significant tremor, raising concerns about the increased likelihood of a major earthquake, authorities warn. This potential disaster could surpass the devastation of the 2011 catastrophe. Japan remains one of the most earthquake-prone nations globally.

Recently, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency in Tokyo has, for the first time, highlighted an elevated risk of a mega-earthquake along the Pacific coast, higher than usual.

The tremor injured several people, caused damage to buildings and roads, but there were no irregularities reported in the regional nuclear power plants. However, experts have significantly increased the probability of a large earthquake along the Nankai Trough, a deep-sea trench extending approximately 900 kilometers from Shizuoka Prefecture on Honshu to Kyushu.

The Japanese government estimates a 70-80% chance of an 8 to 9 magnitude earthquake occurring along the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, potentially resulting in up to 323,000 fatalities. The last significant tremor in this area was in 1946. Today, a mega-earthquake and subsequent tsunami could cause catastrophic damage, affecting major cities, including Tokyo.

In March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake in northeastern Japan triggered a massive tsunami, killing around 20,000 people and leading to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japanese seismologists have since focused on the Nankai Trough, fearing that an earthquake here could have even more severe consequences.

Thursday’s quake occurred about 30 kilometers deep off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, temporarily halting high-speed train operations. The tremor and the increased risk designation for the Nankai Trough have once again highlighted the dangers faced by Japan. Strong earthquakes can strike at any time, and predicting their exact occurrence remains impossible. Many fear that a major quake will inevitably hit Tokyo.

Despite the threat, panic did not spread among the population. What might be perceived in the West as indifference is actually a composed resilience. The Japanese people’s acceptance of living in such a precarious environment has fostered an extraordinary endurance in crisis situations. “The realization that one must ultimately accept living on a powder keg has led to remarkable perseverance among the island inhabitants.”

This article is based on material first published by Der Spiegel, by sug/dpa. The original version and full context can be found in the original article.
Photo: Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images
The content on https://globalwidenews.com/ represents the opinions of various media outlets and does not reflect the views of the GlobalWideNews editorial staff.

Latest from Blog

Don't Miss