Japan issues first-ever major earthquake warning: What does it mean? | Explained News

After a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Thursday, the country's meteorological agency issued its first-ever “major earthquake warning.”

The warning said the possibility of strong quakes and large tsunamis was higher than usual in the Nankai Trough, a subduction zone (an area where tectonic plates collide with each other and one heavier one slides beneath the other) along Japan's southwestern Pacific coast.

However, this does not mean that a major earthquake will definitely occur within a specific period, according to the warning.

What is the Nankai Basin?

The Nankai Trough is an underwater subduction zone (about 900 km long) where the Eurasian Plate collides with the Philippine Sea Plate, pushing the latter beneath the former and into the Earth's mantle. This creates a buildup of tectonic stresses that can cause a massive earthquake – one with a magnitude greater than 8 on the Richter scale.

According to a 2023 study titled “A High Probability of Successive Nankai-Type Earthquakes,” published in Nature, the basin produces large earthquakes about every 100 to 150 years. These quakes typically come in pairs, with the second often occurring within the next two years—the most recent “double” quakes occurred in 1944 and 1946.

Thursday's 7.1-magnitude quake struck in or near the Nankai Trough, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. As a result, experts fear the next tremor along the basin could be devastating.

When might the next major earthquake occur along the Nankai Trough?

In January 2022, the Japan Earthquake Research Committee said the probability of a major earthquake with a magnitude of 8-9 along the basin was about 70% within the next 30 years.

Such a large earthquake could send tremors from central Shizuoka – about 150 kilometers south of Tokyo – to southwest Miyazaki, Reuters reported.

Tsunami waves up to 98 feet high are expected to hit Japan's Pacific coast within minutes after the quake.

A 2013 government report concluded that a major earthquake in the Nankai Trough could affect an area covering about a third of Japan's land area and home to about half of the country's more than 120 million people, according to a report in Nikkei Asia.

Economic damage from the disaster could reach $1.50 trillion, or more than a third of Japan's annual GDP.

But can earthquakes be predicted?

No, accurate earthquake prediction requires a prior signal from within the Earth that a major earthquake is on its way. The signal must come just before major earthquakes so that it does not indicate every small movement within the Earth's surface. Currently, there is no equipment to find such prior signals.

Robert Geller, emeritus professor of seismology at the University of Tokyo, told the BBC that the warning issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency on Thursday was just a warning, not a prediction – and had nothing to do with science. The warning asked residents to prepare, review evacuation routes and consider possible future warnings.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos