The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) today lifted the warning of a ‘megathrust earthquake’ on the Pacific coast of the western half of the country, which was in force a week ago when an earthquake shook south-west Japan.
Last Thursday, Japanese authorities decided to issue a warning about the possibility of an earthquake of magnitude 8 or 9 generated in the Nankai Trench, an area of active seismic activity submerged by the waters of southwestern Japan.
The JMA issued this warning following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale in the south of the country, which injured 15 people and collapsed more than a dozen houses.
This warning was based on recommendations from experts and estimates that place a 70 to 80% probability of an earthquake of this magnitude occurring in the next three decades, a phenomenon that would have catastrophic consequences for the country.
According to official estimates, an occurrence of this kind could cause more than 300,000 victims.
The EFE news agency describes that the JMA took into account statistics that show an increased probability of strong earthquakes after an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher in an area close to the Nankai Trench.
Based on the warning, the government has asked more than 700 municipalities in 29 prefectures across the country, from southwestern Okinawa to central Tokyo, to review their preparedness measures for a potential major disaster.
People have also been advised to update their earthquake plans, including checking the location of the nearest evacuation facilities and even considering voluntary evacuation of households with young children or elderly people.
But the warning, the first of its kind since the system was launched in 2017, has drawn criticism from some experts who have called it an excessive and alarmist measure, given the high difficulty of accurately predicting earthquakes and the economic and even psychological impact it could have on the country and its people.
In addition, the announcement came during the Obon holiday period, when there is a large amount of travel, especially from large cities like Tokyo to rural areas, which generates significant revenue for the tourism sector.
Today, this alert was raised, hours after the minister responsible for managing natural disasters announced that Japan would lift the mega-earthquake alert if no major changes in seismic activity were recorded.
“If by 5:00 p.m. today (9:00 a.m. in Lisbon) no particular changes in seismic activity or in the deformation of the Earth’s crust are observed, the Government will lift the special alert,” declared Yoshifumi Matsumura.
The minister assured that the Government would continue to respond “with a sense of urgency.”
“The public is asked to be aware that the possibility of a major earthquake has not been eliminated and to regularly check earthquake preparedness measures in order to be ready for the expected major earthquake,” added the minister.
Last Thursday’s 7.1 earthquake struck the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu, where a tsunami half a meter high was observed.
Japan is located on the so-called Ring of Fire, one of the most active seismic zones in the world, and suffers earthquakes relatively frequently, which is why its infrastructure is specially designed to withstand tremors.
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