2024-08-24 15:47:18
The Japan Meteorological Agency has estimated that there is a 70% chance of a mega-earthquake occurring in Asia in the coming decades.
The Japanese government estimated at a 70% chance of a mega-earthquake in Asiaafter the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that shook the country on Thursday. In fact, the authorities’ alert led to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has cancelled his tour of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia, which was to begin today..
This is the first time that Japanese authorities have issued such a warning under the new system that was implemented after the 2011 earthquake, which caused the nuclear accident in Fukushima.
On Friday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that “the possibility of a major earthquake occurring is higher than normal“.
However, in its report, the entity stated that “This does not indicate that a large earthquake will occur with certainty.” in the coming days.
Although Thursday’s earthquake did not cause major damage in Japan, At least eight people were injuredwhile bullet trains significantly reduced their speed during the episode as a preventive measure.
The possibility of a mega-earthquake in Asia increases
Located at the junction of several tectonic plates, Japan has had strict anti-seismic construction standards for decades and, prior to the earthquake on Thursday, the authorities had already warned of the possibility that a mega-earthquake will occur in Asia in the coming decades.
“Although it is impossible to predict earthquakes, the occurrence of one usually increases the probability“that another one will occur, experts said.
Along with Chile, Japan is one of the countries with the highest seismic activity in the world.and both record thousands of earthquakes each year, the vast majority with magnitudes imperceptible to people.