The prospect of a “mega-earthquake” in Japan has led to thousands of cancellations at hotels located in high-risk zones, hitting the tourism sector in the midst of the summer season, tourism professionals said today.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a warning on Thursday after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that injured 15 people in the southern part of the country.
“The probability of another strong earthquake occurring is higher than under normal conditions, but this does not mean that an earthquake is certain to occur.”according to the service.
The JMA warning concerns the subduction zone at Nankai trenchlocated between two tectonic plates of the Pacific Ocean, where strong earthquakes of magnitude 8 or 9 have been produced in the past every one or two centuries.
They cancel their reservations
In the west Kosione of the areas that could be hardest hit, at least 9,400 people canceled their hotel reservations after the warning, the local hotel industry federation said.
Cancellations for the period August 9-18 are equivalent to losses of 140 million yen (about 868,500 euros), Susumu Nishitami, an industry representative, told AFP.
The quake warning coincides with the annual holiday, during which many Japanese return to their families and visit their hometowns.
“Normally, all the hotels and inns in our town would be full at this time of year.”Nisitani noted.
The warning is expected to be lifted on Thursday if no abnormal seismic activity is recorded, local media reported.
“We hold out a small hope of seeing new bookings trickle in once the warning is lifted”Nisitani emphasized.
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