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Mega Quake Alert Issued For The Next 7 Days

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An earthquake even larger than today's could be extremely destructive, destroying modern buildings due to shaking ...while wiping out coastal communities from severe tsunami conditions. Image: AI/Grok
An earthquake even larger than today’s could be extremely destructive, destroying modern buildings due to shaking …while wiping out coastal communities from severe tsunami conditions. Image: AI/Grok

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), responsible for issuing advisories dealing with weather, earthquakes, and volcanoes in Japan, has issued a Mega Quake Alert after this morning’s large magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck just off shore the northern part of the country. In addition to there being a threat of a larger earthquake, a magnitude 8 or greater event,  there could also be an even larger tsunami; while Japan’s Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture would be most at risk, there could also be a Pacific-wide destructive tsunami should a mega quake actually materialize. The Mega Quake Alert is in effect for a period of at least 7 days.

JMA issued a Hokkaido–Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory, warning that while still unlikely overall, the probability of a giant “megaquake” along the Japan Trench is now higher than normal.

Officials in Japan are urging people to check evacuation routes, prepare emergency kits, secure home furniture and confirm backup food, water and portable toilets. People along the Pacific coast in those areas should remain on the alert during the next week, even though an evacuation recommendation will not be issued.

A significant earthquake in Japan, such as the one that could happen in the current Megaquake Advisory, could unleash destructive tsunami across much of the Pacific ocean. Image: NOAA
A significant earthquake in Japan, such as the one that could happen in the current Megaquake Advisory, could unleash destructive tsunami across much of the Pacific ocean. Image: NOAA

 

Morikubo Tsukasa, Cabinet Office official for disaster preparedness,   held a news conference over a potential mega quake. He said, “Based on the statistics of earthquakes that have occurred around the world so far, there is a possibility that a large-scale earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or higher could occur along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido as a follow-up earthquake to the quake late Monday night. It is unclear whether a large-scale earthquake will occur. But everyone should heed the call to take precautions to protect their lives.”

Today’s alert is the second ever issued by JMA. The first was issued after a magnitude 7.1 quake near the Nankai Trough struck.  The warning system was developed off of lessons from the 2011 earthquake disaster that struck not only Japan, but large parts of the Pacific basin from the Philippines to the United States with destructive tsunami waves.