Scientists in Japan warn of possible ‘major earthquake’ in wake of magnitude 7.1 quake

TOKYO – A strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked components of Japan on Thursday, prompting officers to difficulty a Tsunami Advisory that compelled residents to flee to greater floor for security, and scientists at the moment are warning that an excellent greater earthquake may happen in the identical area within the coming days.

Officers in Japan held an emergency assembly within the wake of Thursday’s earthquake and tsunami risk and urged residents to be ready to take speedy motion ought to a significant earthquake happen.

In line with info from the Japan Meteorological Company (JMA), out of 1,437 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or bigger that struck between 1904 and 2014, there have been six circumstances during which a magnitude 8.0 or bigger occurred in the identical area inside seven days.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

That knowledge, the JMA mentioned, features a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck two days earlier than a catastrophic magnitude 9.0 earthquake and Pacific-wide tsunami that rocked the area in March 2011.

The JMA mentioned that in world circumstances, the frequency of a magnitude 8.0 or bigger earthquake occurring throughout the similar area inside seven days after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake is “about as soon as in a number of hundred instances.”

“For these causes, it’s believed that the potential for a large-scale earthquake occurring within the anticipated focal space of the Nankai Trough is comparatively greater than normal,” the JMA mentioned on its web site.

WHAT ARE THE LARGEST EARTHQUAKES TO STRIKE THE US?

Thursday’s earthquake occurred off the southern coast of the island of Kyushu, shaking communities throughout the area and sending tsunami waves practically 2 toes excessive onshore.

The Tsunami Advisory that was issued has since been lifted, however the JMA mentioned there may nonetheless be slight sea-level adjustments on account of the earthquake.

After the earthquake, scientists met to debate the connection between this quake and whether or not it had impacted the Nankai Trough, which sits about 560 miles offshore.

9.0 QUAKE ROCKED THE PACIFIC COAST 323 YEARS AGO AND SENT AN ‘ORPHAN TSUNAMI’ TO JAPAN

“Nankai Trough earthquakes are numerous, and the focal space of a large-scale earthquake could also be restricted to the world round (Thursday’s) earthquake, or it might lengthen to your entire Nankai Trough,” the JMA mentioned.

If a significant earthquake happens, the JMA mentioned robust shaking could be anticipated over a big space of Japan from the Kanto Area to the Kyushu Area and could be able to producing a “massive tsunami” alongside the Pacific coast from the Kanto Area to the Okinawa Area.

“Please take catastrophe prevention measures in accordance with future calls from the federal government and native authorities,” the JMA mentioned. “The Japan Meteorological Company will proceed to rigorously monitor the progress of crustal exercise alongside the Nankai Trough.”

Data on this story was translated from Japanese to English by way of Google Translate