Japanese Worried After First Megaquake Advisory
Japan, one of the most earthquake-prone nations on earth, issued its first-ever "megaquake advisory" last week after a powerful quake struck off the southeastern coast of the southern main island of Kyushu.
The magnitude 7.1 quake caused no deaths or severe damage but the advisory has led to widespread confusion and a lingering sense of worry — in a country well accustomed to regular quakes — about when the next big one will hit.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the advisory after concluding that the magnitude 7.1 quake that struck on August 8 has increased the likelihood of another big one on the Nankai Trough — an area of strong seismic activity that stretches along Japan's Pacific coast.
There is a 70-80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake associated with the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, and the probability is now "higher than normal" after the latest quake, the JMA says.
But that is not a prediction that a megaquake will happen at any specific time or location, says Naoshi Hirata, who heads the JMA's experts panel. He urged people to remain cautious and prepared.
As a result of the megaquake advisory, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled a planned trip to Central Asia and announced he would lead the government response.
The megaquake advisory, which is filled with scientific jargon, has worried people across the country. Some towns closed beaches and canceled annual events, which has led to challenges for travelers during Japan's Obon holiday week, a time for festivals and fireworks across the nation.
Many people have put off planned trips and rushed to stock up on rice, dried noodles, canned food, bottled water, portable toilets and other emergency goods, leaving shelves empty at many supermarkets in western Japan and Tokyo, even though the capital is outside the at-risk area.
However, experts and officials have urged people to stay calm and carry on with their daily social and economic activities.
And in a reassuring note on August 12, JMA experts said they have so far found no abnormal seismic or tectonic activity that would indicate a megaquake.
