EPAJapanese Prime Minister at a press conference
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 20:25
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida has canceled his planned trip to Central Asia after Japan’s meteorological agency JMA issued a warning of a “mega-earthquake.” It is the first time the agency has issued such a warning, Kishida said at a news conference.
The prime minister has the highest responsibility in a crisis in the country and that is why he stays in the country. “I have decided to stay in the country for the next week to make sure that our preparations and communication are in order,” Kishida said.
Mega earthquake
The JMA warning came after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake was felt in the southwest of the country, injuring 16 people and damaging several buildings. A tsunami warning was also issued for coastal areas of Kyushu Island.
The Japanese government has already expected, based on research, that a major earthquake will occur in the Nankai Trough, a deep rift off the coast of Japan, in the next 30 years.
Yesterday’s quake has increased the chance of such a mega-earthquake, according to the JMA agency. A large quake there could lead to more than 300,000 deadThe government hopes to prevent a high death toll by taking timely measures.
The JMA is urging people in the areas along the Nankai fault to take precautions: secure furniture, know where to take shelter and make arrangements with family members on how to check on each other to make sure they are safe. The advice is valid for at least a week.
Tokio
This morning, the capital of Japan was hit by a 5.3 magnitude quake. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers in Kanagawa Prefecture, which borders Tokyo. The area is not on the Nankai fault line. According to Prime Minister Kishida, no major damage has been reported so far.
