Japanese authorities are urging residents across a broad region of the country to take precautions against the potential for a mega-earthquake. This advisory, issued for the first time, follows a powerful quake that struck Kyushu on Thursday.
The advisory is part of a precautionary protocol known as the Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information protocol. The Japan Meteorological Agency has indicated a relatively high likelihood that a massive earthquake could strike the Nankai Trough area. If such an earthquake occurs, it could result in severe tremors and large tsunamis. While the probability has increased, the agency emphasizes that this does not guarantee an imminent event.
A magnitude 7.1 quake hit southwestern Japan early Thursday, with additional tremors continuing through Friday. Experts have noted that seismic activity in the area remains elevated.
The Meteorological Agency is urging municipalities from Tokyo to southern Okinawa Prefecture to review their earthquake preparedness plans. Authorities are advising residents to secure heavy furniture, familiarize themselves with evacuation sites, and establish communication plans with family members. Households with infants, seniors, or individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to consider voluntary evacuation.
Experts warn that a Nankai Trough earthquake could occur along the plate boundary between Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture and the Hyuganada Sea off Kyushu. They estimate a 70 to 80 percent chance of a quake with a magnitude of 8 to 9 occurring within the next 30 years.
A recent government estimate suggests that, in the worst-case scenario, such an earthquake could result in over 230,000 fatalities and the destruction of approximately 2 million buildings.
