Megaquake Warning Issued Over Fears That 98-Foot Tsunami Could Kill 200,000 People
People along hundreds of miles of coastline in Japan are being warned about the possibility of a "megaquake" hitting the country. Fears are rising for a potential 98-foot tsunami as well. Were that materialize, the casualties could be immense.
According to CBS News, the Japanese government issued the warning "after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the northern part of the country, causing 34 mostly mild injuries and some damage to roads and buildings." The government "has estimated that an offshore megaquake could cause a tsunami of up to 98 feet and kill nearly 200,000 people," CBS News reported. According to that network, the government does note that "the probability of a magnitude 8 or larger quake is only about 1%." However, CBS News reported that the government wants to deliver a "wake-up call" to avoid a disaster like one in 2011 that killed 20,00 people.
Thus, the Japanese weather agency "has issued its highest-level warning that a megaquake could follow Monday’s 7.5-magnitude tremor," The Independent reported on December 10. The warning is so concerning that authorities want people living near the Pacific Ocean to "prepare evacuation plans in case they need to flee their homes," the site noted. The warning stretches along 800 miles of coastline, from Chiba to Hokkaido.
The Megaquake Warning Came After an Earthquake Struck Japan on December 8
(Photo by JIJI Press / AFP via Getty Images) / Japan OUT
The megaquake warning comes after another earthquake hit the country. "Around 11:15 p.m. on December 8, an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 6-upper was observed in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture," the Tokyo Fire Department reported. "In Tokyo, a maximum seismic intensity of 3 and long-period ground motion level 1 were observed. Even if the epicenter is far away, there is a risk of damage due to long-period ground motion, so please implement furniture tipping prevention measures to protect your safety."
A page on the weather agency's website advises about tsunami warnings.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, also issued a warning. "To residents in areas where the shaking was strong, for the next week or so, please pay close attention to information from the Japan Meteorological Agency and local governments, and ensure that you secure furniture, reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness, and prepare to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking. We extend our heartfelt condolences to those who were injured in the earthquake," she wrote on December 8.
“Please take appropriate disaster-prevention measures based on the principle that you are responsible for protecting your own life," she also said, according to The Independent. The news site emphasized the uniqueness of the alert. The megaquake notice, delivered on December 9, "was the first time this top-tier alert has been issued since the warning system was launched in 2022," The Independent wrote.