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Japan has issued its first-ever advisory warning people to remain
cautious against a possible “megaquake”, following the recent 7.1
magnitude earthquake that shook the Miyazaki Prefecture, in the
country’s south.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the likelihood of a
long-anticipated megaquake was greater than usual on the Nankai Trough
off eastern Japan, and estimated that it could reach magnitudes of eight
and even nine. A possible megaquake and tsunami disaster could kill
hundreds of thousands of people and cause an estimated trillion-dollar
damage to Japan.
The agency’s warnings, however, are not an indication of a guaranteed
megaquake, but residents and visitors have been told to prepare and
familiarise themselves with evacuation routes nonetheless. The most
recent Nankai Trough quake happened in 1946 when a magnitude-8 tremor
and 6.9-metre tsunami waves killed 1,330 people.
Japanese authorities have asked over two dozen prefectures to check their disaster preparedness.
Across the region, governments from South Korea to Hong Kong have
warned their residents who are visiting or residing in Japan to stay
alert.