After a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Thursday, officials have issued their first-ever megaquake warning amid ongoing fears that tsunamis may appear.
Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, which is why the country experiences much more earthquakes than any other nation around the globe.
A Severe Earthquake Hits Japan
Earlier this week, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Japan about 18 miles off of Kyushu’s southern coast.
This event occurred around 4:42 p.m. local time. Footage posted on social media of the event showed parked cars shaking, bowling alley TV screens swaying back and forth, and even house walls trembling from the quake.
A Possibility of Tsunamis
After this quake hit parts of Japan, officials quickly came out to announce that there was now a possibility that tsunamis could appear to devastate parts of the coast.
Therefore, a tsunami advisory was issued for various areas, including Kochi, Miyazaki, Oita, Kagoshima, and Ehime prefectures.
A Megaquake Warning
Now, officials have declared that there is a higher chance that a megaquake could also occur sometime in the near future.
This is Japan’s first-ever megaquake warning. The warning was released after experts worried that the Nankai Trough was affected by this most recent 7.1 earthquake.
The Nankai Trough
The Nankai Trough has been the source of incredibly devastating earthquakes in Japan’s past. These earthquakes are rare, but when they occur they can quickly lead to tragedies.
Thanks to this recent quake, experts held an emergency meeting to understand whether the Nankai Trough had in any way been affected.
Will a Megaquake Actually Occur?
Seismologists have issued a megaquake caution. However, they have clarified that this doesn’t mean that a megaquake will 100% happen in the future.
This warning simply states that a large quake has a higher chance than usual to occur — but not that it definitely will.
Japan’s Population Is Warned
This warning also stated that the entire Japanese population needs to stay informed for the next week.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, “We ask all citizens to carefully check every new information issued by the government, reconfirm their daily earthquake preparedness, and be ready to evacuate immediately in the event of an earthquake.”
No Major Destruction or Injuries
Luckily, no major injuries or destruction have been reported from this 7.1 earthquake event. However, there were minor injuries reported.
One report revealed that two older women had been injured from the quake, while a factory worker was hurt after being struck by a falling object.
Japan’s Infrastructure Remains in Good Condition
Japanese authorities have also claimed that the country’s infrastructure remains in good condition, as the quake didn’t cause any massive issues to their power, water, or communication systems.
Some traffic lights were reportedly not working in the Miyazaki Prefecture, however.
Landslides Did Occur
Perhaps the most dangerous effects of this recent earthquake were the landslides that occurred in the Miyazaki Prefecture.
However, it doesn’t appear that the landslides caused major injuries or damages in this region.
Nuclear Factories Are Not Damaged
Officials also took the time to explain that the nuclear factories and plants at Sendai and Ikata have not been damaged.
Officials had been evaluating these nuclear facilities after the 7.1 earthquake to ensure that no damages had potentially arisen.
Japan’s Difficult Past and Future
Because Japan is on the “Ring of Fire”, it has long experienced devastating earthquakes — and will continue to have these quakes in the future.
While Japan has many safety preparations because of this fact, the threat of a potential megaquake has worried many residents.
