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Japan on Tuesday issued its first high-level warning that a so-called ‘megaquake’ could follow the previous night’s 7.5-magnitude offshore tremor.
The authorities cautioned that the coming days would be critical for coastal regions facing an elevated risk of aftershocks.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said there was an increased possibility of an earthquake of magnitude 8 or stronger along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench, marking its first activation of a top-tier alert since the system was introduced in 2022.
The alert covers a broad stretch of the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba.
Authorities urged the public to review evacuation routes, secure heavy furniture and prepare emergency supplies, stressing that communities should remain “vigilant through next week” even in the absence of any evacuation order.
The earthquake on Monday struck at around 11.15 p.m. local time, about 50 miles off the coast of Aomori, and generated tremors strong enough to produce “long-period ground motions”, slow swinging waves that left high-rise buildings swaying violently.
Some parts of Aomori recorded shaking severe enough that people in upper floors struggled to stand, NHK reported. Tsunami warnings were issued for parts of Aomori, Iwate and Hokkaido before being downgraded and lifted on Tuesday morning. Waves of up to 70cm were observed in several coastal locations.
Officials said while a large aftershock was possible, it wasn’t certain. The warning came months after the Cabinet Office released a major update on its planning for a long-feared “megaquake” scenario, projecting that in a worst-case scenario, a massive offshore rupture could kill about 300,000 people and cause damage equivalent to half of the country’s GDP.
The report estimated that a magnitude 9 quake would result in damages worth ¥270 trillion (£1.3 trillion), a sharp increase from earlier projections. The change reflects inflationary pressures as well as new terrain and flood data showing the potential impact could go further inland than previously thought. (Independent)
