Japan's Prime Minister Cancels Foreign trip Following Experts' 'Megaquake' Alert

Friday 09 August 2024 - 08:00

In response to rising seismic concerns, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has canceled his upcoming trip to Central Asia after experts warned of an increased risk of a "megaquake" along Japan's Pacific coast. This decision follows a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the southwest region on Thursday, prompting a tsunami warning.

Facing political challenges, including low approval ratings and an impending ruling party presidential election, Kishida announced the cancellation of his planned summit with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in Astana, as well as a meeting with the Mongolian president in Ulaanbaatar.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first-ever warning of the risk of a massive earthquake along the Pacific coast on Thursday, following the Kyushu quake. While the agency's advisory does not indicate that a major earthquake is imminent, it underscores the heightened probability of a devastating "megathrust quake" in the Nankai Trough, a subduction zone between two tectonic plates in the Pacific Ocean.

The Nankai Trough has a history of producing destructive earthquakes of magnitude 8 or 9 every 100 to 200 years, with the last major event occurring in 1707. Government experts estimate a 70% to 80% chance of a megaquake measuring magnitude 8 or 9 within the next 30 years, with the potential for catastrophic consequences, including the loss of up to 300,000 lives and financial damages as high as $13 trillion.

While the precise timing of such an event remains impossible to predict, recent seismic activity and the meteorological agency's warning have prompted Kishida's decision to cancel his overseas trip and focus on preparing for any potential disaster. As one of the world's most seismically active countries, Japan's resilience and disaster preparedness will be critically tested in the face of this looming threat.