Authorities in Japan have issued a warning about an increased risk of a major earthquake — sometimes known as a ‘megaquake’. It’s the first time a warning of this kind has been issued.
In a press conference, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) clarified that a major earthquake was not necessarily imminent, but the risk was “higher than usual.”
The warning came hours after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan.
Earthquake
On Thursday, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern island Kyushu. A tsunami advisory was triggered after the quake, but no major damage or deaths were reported.
Seismologists held an emergency meeting to determine if the quake had affected the Nankai Trough, a 900km stretch between two tectonic plates that has been the source of past major earthquakes.
According to the JMA, earthquakes typically occur in the Nankai Trough roughly every 100 to 150 years.
Large quakes in the Nankai Trough have historically caused severe damage.
In the event of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trough, the JMA anticipates intense shaking over a wide area of southeastern Japan, as well as high tsunami waves along the Pacific coast.
The agency said it will continue to closely watch movements of plates near the Nankai Trough.
