Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called off his planned trip to Central Asia to focus on the government’s response to a new advisory about a potential “megaquake” off Japan’s southern coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory” on Thursday, following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake near Kyushu Island. This advisory, prompted by concerns about the Nankai Trough—a known source of significant past quakes—warns of possible future major seismic activity.
In response to the quake, which injured 16 people and caused no severe damage, seismologists held an emergency meeting to assess its impact on the Nankai Trough and review the risk of a major earthquake. They advised the public to maintain heightened caution for the coming week.
Due to the advisory, Kishida has canceled his trip to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia, originally scheduled for August 9-12. He stated, “I have decided to stay in the country at least for about a week to ensure that government measures and communication are fully in place.”
Additionally, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency has instructed 707 municipalities at risk from a Nankai Trough quake to reassess their disaster response strategies and evacuation plans.
