First-Ever ‘Mega Earthquake’ Alert Issued in Japan

First-ever official “mega earthquake alert” was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) today, in response to a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that occurred earlier that day off the coast of Kyushu island.

Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries. The Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan has verified that all twelve nuclear reactors located on the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku are deemed safe.

The earthquake struck at approximately 4:43 PM local time (07:43 GMT) near the Miyazaki prefecture of Japan’s third largest island, at a depth of around 18 miles, prompting the issuance of tsunami warnings, according to the JMA.

In the aftermath of today’s quake, JMA warned that the likelihood of a significant earthquake is deemed to be considerably greater than usual. It has advised residents to maintain heightened vigilance over the coming week.

Seismologists are said to have convened an urgent meeting to assess the potential effects of the earthquake on the adjacent Nankai Trough, an area that has long been regarded with concern due to the possibility of a significant earthquake resulting in hundreds of thousands of fatalities. According to the agency, substantial earthquakes have historically occurred every 100 to 150 years in the central and western regions of Japan.

Japan’s government reportedly anticipates a significant earthquake occurring at the Nankai Trough within the next three decades, estimating a probability of 70-80%.

Japan is located on the ‘Ring of Fire,’ a series of seismic faults that encircle the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world.

The powerful earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, along with the ensuing tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011, resulted in the loss of 18,000 lives and initiated the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe.

In January, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto peninsula in the western region of the country, resulting in the loss of over 240 lives and the destruction of tens of thousands of homes.

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