08.04.2025 11:55
Japanese scientists have announced that they expect a deadly earthquake along the Pacific coast within a 30-year period. It is stated that tsunami waves exceeding 30 meters are anticipated as a result of this earthquake, and the death toll could reach 300,000. The Japanese Cabinet Office has updated its impact predictions for the first time since 2013.
The Japanese government has issued an urgent warning about the significant damage that could be caused by the upcoming major earthquake. Experts believe there is an 80% chance of a magnitude 9 tremor occurring in the Nankai Trough off Japan's Pacific coast within the next 30 years.
TSUNAMI EXCEEDING 30 METERS
According to a report by NTV, the government's new estimates suggest that this disaster could lead to the death of 300,000 people in the worst-case scenario. This figure includes 215,000 deaths caused by tsunami waves exceeding 30 meters in some regions.
The Nankai Trough is a deep ocean trench formed by the boundary of two tectonic plates, where major earthquakes occur every 100 to 200 years. The report predicts that in the deadliest scenario, 2.35 million buildings will collapse due to flooding, fire, and other causes.
12.3 MILLION PEOPLE TO BE EVACUATED
The destruction will result in damages worth £1.44 trillion, and approximately 12.3 million people will be evacuated. This estimate means that at least 10% of Japan's population will be displaced within a week after the earthquake.
Japan is particularly vulnerable to deadly earthquakes as it is located on a vast seismic activity zone known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. This region is known to be the source of approximately 81% of the world's major earthquakes due to the convergence of multiple tectonic plates.
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One of the most dangerous areas is the Nankai Trough, where the Philippine Sea Plate is being pushed beneath the Eurasian Plate. This 900-kilometer trench has the potential to produce extremely large and deadly tremors known as mega earthquakes.
Last year, the Japanese government issued its first warning about a Nankai Trough mega earthquake following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Japan. As the risk of a major earthquake occurring in the near future increases, the Japanese Cabinet Office updated its impact estimates for the first time since 2013.