Following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s eastern coast near Aomori, the nation’s weather authority has issued an exceptional “megaquake advisory.” While the immediate aftermath saw limited damage and 34 individuals injured, the advisory serves as a precaution against the heightened possibility of a much larger seismic event occurring in the affected area. Officials stressed that this alert is not a forecast, with the probability of an magnitude 8 or higher quake assessed as low, at about one percent. The primary goal is to enhance public preparedness for potential devastating scenarios, reminiscent of the 2011 disaster that claimed approximately 20,000 lives. Seismic activity along the Hokkaido-Sanriku coast, a geologically volatile region, has been identified as a concern by the Japan Meteorological Agency. A significant factor driving this alert is the striking similarity to the precursor events of the 2011 megaquake; a magnitude 7.3 tremor occurred two days before the catastrophic 9.0 magnitude earthquake that triggered the Fukushima crisis. Coastal communities spanning 182 municipalities from Hokkaido to Chiba are advised to stay vigilant, maintain disaster preparedness kits, and be prepared for swift evacuations. Government assessments outline a dire potential scenario for a megaquake in this region, including tsunamis reaching up to 30 meters, an estimated 199,000 fatalities, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and substantial economic losses.
