Japan was put on high alert by the Japanese Meteorological Agency on August 8, following a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the Miyazaki prefecture in southern Japan. This quake caused injuries to at least 16 individuals and triggered minor tsunamis reaching up to 50 centimeters tall along the coastline half an hour later.
The JMA stated that the likelihood of a major earthquake occurring is higher than usual, leading to the issuance of the first-ever “megaquake alert.” This alert is anticipated to be in effect for approximately a week, with residents in southern Japan advised to remain vigilant and prepared even after the alert period ends.
Seismologist Naoshi Hirata from the University of Tokyo mentioned during a press conference with the JMA that the probability of a larger earthquake in the region within the next week is relatively low, but the risk of a magnitude 8 or 9 earthquake in the Nankai Trough over the next 30 years is significant, ranging from 70 to 80 percent.
“While there is always a long-term risk, the recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake has heightened the short-term risk,” explained geophysicist Morgan Page from the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, California. ”However, this short-term risk decreases each day without another earthquake occurrence.”
2024-08-09 14:25:00
Originally published on www.sciencenews.org